I'm glad I didn't experience what so many others did in terms of bullies. Maybe it was because I started studying martial arts at age 9.

I recommend several of the things listed above.

1. A punch in the nose works under certain circumstances, as does a kick in the groin. I doubt either would work in this situation.

2. A discussion with the principal, or the parents, either involving or threatening to involve police or lawyers, is likely to be effective. Even douchebag parents, when faced with a lawsuit, are likely to yell at the kid and make him cut out the crap.

3. There's always the tactic of, at an opportune moment, screaming at the top of her lungs, "You can't touch me there!" with appropriate actions afterward.

Sort of kidding about #3, but it would make the principal be all over it like stink on manure.

I have had only a couple of experiences with this, once in grade school and once in high school, and I agree with you. Even if you can't win the fight most bullies do not really want to have to fight you and once they understand that you will not back down will usually leave you alone and find other easier targets. You have to be willing to get beat up for this to work.

In the OP's case of this small girl being bullied by a much larger older boy though this strategy will probably not work. I would think that there should be some way to have this boy's peers ridicule him for picking on a little girl.

The problem with getting the school involved is that the kids are not always at school when this stuff happens. Any boy who would pick on a much smaller younger girl may have some mental problems so perhaps the advice offered by "The_Jazz" should be taken and threaten legal action. Also there seems to be crazier more violent people, adults and children nowadays than years ago.

i thought i'd chime in and reccomend some self defense classes. i didn't see anyone talk about this.

not only will they learn ways to defend themselves if put in these situations, they will take away a great sense of dignity and self awareness that a lot of kids are losing today through tv and computers.

for small kids in particular, i reccomend aikido. it is a martial art that teaches you to use your attacker's force against them.... turning that punch their throwing into a debilitating arm bar or even a flip to the ground.

No matter how big you are or how you fit in there are things you can learn to stop bully's in your tracks. i know a 5'1 blond girl that can kick the shit out of just about anyone. she doesn't of course, but she could if they were after her.