Helping Your Child to Handle Bullies

You can help your child to be prepared for bullies as it is inevitable they will encounter one or more in each of the schools which they attend.

I feel the most important thing you need to tell your child is that you will be ready to support them with any problems that they encounter at school or elsewhere.

You can also help them to develop their social skills, self-confidence and a network of friends - three important factors which help to reduce the chance that they will be bullied and that they will be much better able to cope with it if anyone tries to bully them.
Responding to Verbal Bullying.

Verbal bullying is one of the most common types which children and adults will encounter.

Most will react by showing signs of distress or trying to turn the attack on their tormentor with an equally insulting verbal response or physical attack.

These responses are what the bully expects and each of them will inevitably encourage more abuse. An assertive but polite response can reduce the likelihood of further bullying for a time, but this is not something which comes easily to children.

The response needs to be something which is non-confrontational and which your child is comfortable about using.
He or she might say, "You may be right, thank you" and then keep walking on without giving any indication that the comment had any importance or impact.
I have read advice that children should make a joke about the bully's taunt. I feel that could provoke a swift physical response from the bully who would not like to have their intended victim make fun of them. Most bullies are not real bright and may not even understand the joke. What they don't understand, they don't like and many tend to hit what they don't like.
That's why I think the firm but neutral remark like the one I wrote above is the best course.