Nearly every day, we see news headlines with the word or a variation of the word, “bullying.” Most commonly, these reports involve students between the ages of 10 and 17; however, there are many accounts that also feature political figures, workplaces and even professional sport teams. The fact is, bullying can happen anywhere and can […]
October is National Bullying Prevention Month, uniting communities nationwide with activities and dialogue that educate and raise awareness of bullying prevention. To support you during this month, I want to share with you important information about what bullying is and how to help your child overcome bullying. Let’s even talk about how we can empower […]
“Sticks and stones will break my bones, but words will never hurt me.” Not really, actually. I disagree – words can hurt, as can being ignored or shunned or having rumors spread about you. When these things are repeated over time, it is bullying. And we need to make sure that we are addressing it […]
As your child gets older, they require less hands-on from you with their school and friends. By the time they are in middle school, they know the consequences of not doing their homework and/or studying. Playdates have graduated to “drop-offs” at friends and your child is exposed to a broader group of peers, whom you’re […]
It’s not uncommon for kids to experience a wide-range of emotions leading up to and during the first few weeks of a new school year. Who will be in my class and Will I like my teacher are thoughts that cross nearly every child’s mind. But, for those who have been bullied, there are other […]
When bullying occurs, there is a bully and a victim, but there are usually other people who are standing by – witnessing, participating, or standing up against what is happening. These bystanders, depending on how they behave, will either negatively or positively affect how the bully reacts. The bystander will either join with the bully […]
As summer is approaching fast, you have probably started to plan activities for your kids. Some kids will go to camp (click here for a comprehensive list of local summer camps), others may have summer jobs or summer school. It’s important that even during summer activities, we’re aware of any potential bullying situations. When kids […]
Every school has different rules and regulations about how they address the bullying epidemic. Some schools take a more proactive approach while others are more reactive to the issue of bullying. It is important that we do not prejudge a school regarding their approach to bullying until we know all the facts. Parents can take […]
While presenting on bullying at a conference for professionals last summer, I had audience members raise their hands if they were bullied as children and are still being impacted by it as an adult. I was amazed to see so many hands go up. This was still a problem for a lot of adults in […]
Growing up, many of us heard the typical sayings: “boys will be boys,” “girls are just mean sometimes,” and “it’s part of growing up” whenever our peers were teasing or making fun of one another. There wasn’t the understanding or acknowledgement of what this “rite of passage” could do to our self-esteem, long-term. Sometimes, the […]
