October Is National Bullying Prevention Month

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October is National Bullying Prevention Month. There's many articles on line that have to do with this subject. Hopefully you will find this article informative. 

Image removed.“Bullying is unwanted, aggressive behavior among school aged children that involves a real or perceived power imbalance. The behavior is repeated, or has the potential to be repeated, over time. Both kids who are bullied and who bully others may have serious, lasting problems.” (stopbullying.gov)

Bullying. We hold on to the 1950s image of the big kid on the playground taunting, name calling, pushing, and intimidating other children. While that image still has validity, bullying is not the exclusive domain of boys nor is it necessarily one child bullying other children, as stories of peer group bullying in the national media have shown. Even the landscape of bullying has changed.

According to DoSomething.org, bullying occurs mostly in schools, on the bus, and in neighborhoods. However, bullying has reached beyond the traditional school grounds and now includes harassing or intimidating someone by text message, e-mail or posts on social media sites like Facebook and Twitter. Nearly 43% of kids have been bullied online. (DoSomething.org) For a child being bullied, it can be an intense and pervasive experience starting from walking to school in the morning and lasting until an electronic device is shut down before bedtime.

October is National Bullying Prevention Month. Tween and teen stars, politicians, school officials, and community leaders are bringing attention to this national problem. They share resources for tweens and teens, stories of bullying experiences, and facts about bullying in this country.

For our community, it is an opportunity for us to listen to our teens and young adults share their unique stories of being bullied because of their hydrocephalus and to give them the proper tools they need to respond effectively. It is also a chance for us to learn, for parents of young children to prepare, and for all of us to support each other.

  • More than 160,000 U.S. students stay home from school each day from fear of being bullied. (Pacer Center)
  • The most common reason cited for being harassed is a student’s appearance or body size. 2 out of 5 teens feel that they are bullied because of the way that they look. (DoSomething.org)

  • Bullying directly affects a student’s ability to learn. Students who are bullied find it difficult to concentrate, show a decline in grades, and lose self-esteem, self-confidence, and self-worth. (Pacer Center)
  • Students who are bullied report more physical symptoms, such as headaches or stomachaches, and mental health issues, such as depression and anxiety, than other students. (Pacer Center)
  • Students can be especially effective in bullying intervention. More than 55 percent of bullying situations will stop when a peer intervenes. (Pacer Center)

  • 56% of students have personally felt some sort of bullying at school. Between 4th and 8th grade in particular, 90% of students are victims of bullying. (DoSomething.org)
  • In some cases, bullying has led to devastating consequences, such as school shootings and suicide. (Pacer Center)

  • Bullying is a community wide issue that must no longer be ignored or thought of as a rite of passage. Students, parents, and educators all have a role in addressing bullying situations and changing school culture. (Pacer Center)

One of the best ways to begin to make change is to provide the tools individuals and parents need to address bullying. Below is a list of organizations that provide suggestions, ideas, and advice for victims of bullying. Take a look! If you’re a parent, take some time this weekend and visit these sites together. Some of the sites are really interactive and engage kids through videos, petitions, and informational graphics.

General Information and Resources

The American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD)

American Academy of Children & Adolescents Psychiatry (AACAP)


PACER’s National Bullying Prevention Center


30 Seconds: AAPD’s Campaign to Stop Bullying


StopBullying.gov


KidsHealth.org

Support and Resources for Kids

PACER Center’s Kids Against Bullying


Support and Resources for Teens and Young Adults

PACER Center Teens Against Bullying

Teens Health

Do Something.org

We shared a number of facts throughout the blog. Many of these are graphics that we are posting on Facebook. We encourage you to spread the word on your Facebook page as well as sharing the tips and resources with your loved ones.

Let’s put a stop to bullying!

Additional Sources:
Pacer Center
DoSomething.org
NASP Resources
Make Beats, Not Beat Downs
Stop Cyber Bullying
Love to Know
New York State School Counselor Association
National Crime Prevention
Internet Safety 101
Stomp Out Bullying
End Cyber Bullying

 

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