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October 2022
Students. Parents. Teachers. School Administrators.
We are ALL in this together. One person cannot stop bullying.
Bullying (noun) - ongoing and deliberate misuse of power in relationships through reported verbal, physical, and/or social behavior that intends to cause physical, social, and/or psychological harm.
Children and adults alike can experience bullying - including but not limited to, making threats, spreading rumors, attacking someone physically or verbally, and/or purposefully excluding someone from a group.
As children are getting settled back at school, it's time to bring awareness to bullying. It's important to address as early as possible so students know how to prevent bullying, who to talk to if they experience it, and ways to promote kindness, inclusion, and acceptance.
There are many adults that can discuss this issue with children. Whether that conversation starts at home and moves to the classroom or vice versa.
Children & Families First offers licensed, trained, caring counselors through our FREE Behavior Health Consultants program. If your child's middle school has a BHC, they will help a child who is being bullied by providing them with a safe space to talk, help them develop assertive communication skills, and ways to improve their self esteem.
When talking to "the bully", the BHC can help that student identify the source of their negative thoughts and feelings, help them to improve their self esteem and social skills.
Click here to learn more information about our BHC program!
Five Things to Teach Your Children (nd Remind Yourself) About Bullying:
Treat Everyone with Respect
Nobody should be mean to others. It's critical to stop and think before you say or do something that could hurt someone else. Keep in mind that everyone is different. Not better or worse. Just different. If you think you've bullied someone, apologize. Click here to read our August newsletter to get tips on how to apologize like you mean it.
What to Do if You're Being Bullied
If someone is being mean and bullying you, the best thing to do is ask them to stop in a calm, clear voice. Sometimes that can seem daunting and intimidating so you can also just walk away and find an adult that you trust to talk to.
Protect Yourself from Cyberbullying
Bullying doesn't always happen in person. Cyberbullying happens online in various forms, such as text messages, emails, and on social media platforms. You should ALWAYS think before you post something. It's important to limit who can view your profiles and information. Keep your password safe from everyone BUT your parents. Be sure to always keep your parents in the loop.
Stand Up for Others
If you see someone being bullied, it is important to talk to a trusted adult. They need to know when bad things are happening so they can help. You should also make sure that you are being kind to the person being bullied.
Get Involved
If bullying is an issue at your school, find out more about when and where it's happening and share ideas on what could help stop it. Talk to the principal and teachers about getting involved at school.
https://www.stopbullying.gov/kids/what-you-can-do
https://www.ncab.org.au/bullying-advice/bullying-for-parents/definition-of-bullying/
COMING NEXT MONTH! Family History/Parents
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