October is National Bullying Prevention Month. During this month, communities and schools across the country are urged to bring awareness around bullying and take an active role in making it STOP.
One such effort is happening Wednesday, October 12th– “Unity Day”, which I heard about in a letter from my son’s school.
The teachers and students are asked to wear orange as a show of support to kids who have experienced bullying. Families are also urged to wear orange ribbons, share their story, spread the word on social media, or participate in a community event.
Most of all, we are being encouraged to have a conversation in our homes about bullying– what it is, how it is happening, and how to stop it.
While this is wonderful and awareness is the path of change, Unity Day is ONE day.
Bullying happens everyday, and its effects can last years… if not, a lifetime.
Unfortunately, many schools are overwhelmed and don’t know how to the address it (especially if it is happening online, not on school grounds). Many parents are also stuck, not knowing what to do about it or not realizing how serious it can be. Then, there are the parents who set the example of bullying or silently send the message that “it’s okay”.
Bullying explodes and becomes more vicious in middle school, but it actually begins as young as Kindergarten and first grade. It begins with name-calling and parents who just lift their shoulders and sigh, “Oh, boys will be boys. Whatcha’ gonna do?” or “Little girls are just like that…”
Children are told “not to tattle”, then brushed aside. Their little spats are treated as a petty squabble, because, at that age, it probably is. What is really happening is that kids are missing out on lessons about empathy, civility, and self-worth. They never learn how to stand up for themselves or others. They never learn that it’s NOT okay. They never learn to speak out.
At the beginning of the school year, CBS News’ 48 Hours presented “Bullying: Words Can Kill“. (Preview below.) It’s available online, and an hour that I hope every parent will watch. It’s a in-depth look at what bullying is today, and what parents and school can do to help.
Unless kids have a support system at home or at school, they may never learn how to cope when the name-calling grows up and gets out of hand. Whether or not your school has policies in place to address bullying, it’s YOUR job to be an advocate for your kids.
If you don’t teach them to stand up foe themselves, who will?
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