Thursday, August 8, 2013

Back to School: Back to Bullying Prevention Awareness

As schools open across our country many kids that are victims of bullying will cringe to enter the playground or cafeteria. 

Bullying and cyberbullying is a growing concern for parents today.  From the hallways to the bathrooms some children are in fear of being teased and harassed by other kids.  This is a horrible way for kids to treat each other.

StopBullying.gov offers many resources for families.

Parents, school staff, and other caring adults have a role to play in preventing bullying. They can:
Help kids understand bullying.

Kids who know what bullying is can better identify it. They can talk about bullying if it happens to them or others. Kids need to know ways to safely stand up to bullying and how to get help.
  • Encourage kids to speak to a trusted adult if they are bullied or see others being bullied. The adult can give comfort, support, and advice, even if they can’t solve the problem directly. Encourage the child to report bullying if it happens.
  • Talk about how to stand up to kids who bully. Give tips, like using humor and saying “stop” directly and confidently. Talk about what to do if those actions don’t work, like walking away
  • Talk about strategies for staying safe, such as staying near adults or groups of other kids.
  • Urge them to help kids who are bullied by showing kindness or getting help.
  • Watch the short webisodes and discuss them with kids.
Source: StopBullying.gov

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