One in three students report being bullied each week in schools across America.* And those that are bullied can experience long-lasting, devasting effects including depression, anxiety, loss of interest in activities and other health issues.**
Fortunately, bullying awareness, education, and prevention efforts are increasing. Communities are joining forces to put a stop to bullying.
October is National Bullying Prevention Month
We can all show our support and make a positive impact by participating in National Bullying Prevention Month. Here are 10 ways you and your staff can get involved and play an active part this October.
Read through the list, then let us know how you will support bullying prevention by commenting below.
1. Download the 10 Steps to Stop and Prevent Bullying List
The National Education Association (NEA) provides a 10-step list of how to stop and prevent bullying. Go here to download the list. Make copies. Pass it out to staff members, friends, and family.
2. Take the Pledge: Stand Up for Bullied Students
As part of the NEA’s Bully Free: It Starts with Me campaign, you can take a pledge and receive a poster and pin to display your support. Go here to take the pledge.
3. Go Orange on Unity Day
Go orange on Wednesday, October 22, 2014 to send a message of support. Wear an orange shirt, tie, pants, hat. Create an orange banner to hang up at your facility. Show your support by taking pictures and sharing them on the Unity Day Facebook Event Page. Check out PACER’s Unity Day page for more ways to get involved.
PACER also offers Unity Day posters to display in your facility. One poster is shipped at no charge. A pack of 10 is $10 shipping. Go here to order your posters.
4. Use PACER’s Activities for Youth
PACER has created a list of young student activities and resources designed to start a conversation and build students’ understanding of how to prevent bullying. Activities include a kids coloring book, a create a poster form and stick puppets with play discussions and scripts. Go here for the complete list.
5. Plan a School Event
PACER has put together a 5-step guide on how to hold a bullying prevention event. Hosting a bullying prevention event is a great way to take the lead and band together with your community to educate and build bullying awareness. Download the Unite Against Bullying – School Event Planning Guide here.
6. Host a Run, Walk, Roll Against Bullying Event in Your Community
Use PACER’s event planning toolkit to host a Run, Walk, Roll Against Bullying event in October or another time during the year. The toolkit is filled with timelines and checklists to help plan and promote the event. The toolkit also includes a sample registration form and press release. Get the toolkit here.
7. Utilize the Stopbullying.gov Kids Website
Stopbullying.gov/kids is filled with facts to educate children about bullying and what to do if bullied. The site also includes 12 animated kid videos with quizzes to reinforce learning points.
8. Download PACER’s National Bullying Prevention Center Information Flyer
This flyer can be used as a handout at events and activities you host in October and other times throughout the year. Download the flyer here.
9. Visit the Stopbullying.gov Cyberbullying Website Section
It’s just as important to know what children and teens are doing online. This site defines cyberbullying and provides ways to prevent and report cyberbullying. Visit stopbullying.gov/cyberbullying.
10. Print These Tips to Give to Parents
The health information website, Be Smart. Be Well., posted the article, Bullying: Habits2Have®. This article will help parents talk to kids and teens about bullying and cyberbullying.
Stay tuned for additional bullying prevention posts coming in October.
Kristen Campbell is a Marketing Specialist with Member Solutions.
*National Education Association
**Stopbullying.gov
How Will You Take a Stand Against Bullying? Comment Below.