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There is no question that bullying, in all its forms, is one of the biggest challenges we face as a society. October is National Bullying Prevention Month which offers parents the perfect opportunity to increase their own awareness and get involved.
Where once this bad behavior seemed to only be exhibited by a few of us, today’s tales of bullying paint a very different picture. Bullies come in all shapes, sizes, races, religions, regions, and ages. They might be the smart kids, the popular kids, or the kids with horrible stories of their lives at home. The truth is, there may be a bully in every one of us, whether we want to admit it or not. The reality is that bullying happens across all areas of our modern lives and those who bully others do it for a variety of reasons. It may be about power or control. It may be about low self-esteem or being bullied by someone else. Regardless of the reasons behind these behaviors, researchers have found one consistent element that can stop the cycle of bullying behavior – parental involvement.
You can make the difference in your child’s world by modeling healthy behavior, knowing what to look for, and supporting your child whether they are the bully or the one being bullied. Here are some resources to help:
Information on Bullying
- StopBullying.gov from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services – This is a great resource for parents, teachers, and other caregivers that provides information on state laws regarding bullying and specific help for parents, communities, teachers, teens, and kids. It is filled with personal accounts, videos, and real ways to get help.
- National Bullying Prevention Center – Provides information on National Bullying Prevention Month, personal accounts, information on how to help and where to get help, and other resources.
- Bullying: It’s Not Ok from HealthyChildren.org – Information from the American Academy of Pediatrics that provides an overview of bullying and ways for parents to help.
- Bullying Prevention Resource Guide from The Partnership for Children and Families – Resource guide that includes frequently asked questions, best practices, and case studies
What if Your Child is Being Bullied
- Bullying: Helping Your Child Handle a Bully from the Mayo Clinic – Provides an overview of the different ways that bullying can happen, an understanding of how bullying can cause lifelong consequences, and strategies for helping your child when faced with a bully.
- Is My Child Being Bullied? Action Steps for Parents from the Huffington Post – Provides parents with information on the different kinds of bullying, how bullying hurts kids, what signs to look for, and how to help.
- How to Keep Your Child from Being Bullied from the Today Show – Personal accounts and ideas for helping your child handle bullying behavior
What if Your Child is the Bully?
- Understanding Bullying Behavior from KidsHealth.org – An in-depth look at what makes kids become bullies and what parents can do to help their child change their behavior
- Not My Kid, What to Do if Your Child is the Bully from Education.com – Helpful information on understanding what may be causing the bullying behavior and real strategies parents can use to help support their child in making better choices
- When Your Child is the Bully from the New York Times – Open discussion with readers on what to do when your child is the one bullying others.
On a Positive Note
- Teen Tackles New Way to Help Kids Battle Bullying from the Sun Sentinel – Newspaper article about a teen who is making a difference for other kids by offering a different way to win the battle against bullying.
- Asking for Santa’s Help, Sibling Love Rivals School Bullying from KSWT Channel 13 – Story about a boy who is asking for Santa’s help in keeping his sister from being bullied
- Overcoming Bullying from the Huffington Post – Inspirational story about overcoming bullying from Olympian Greg Louganis
Related articles
- What Your Teen Isn’t Telling You About Bullying (doorwaysarizona.com)
- Why is Bullying Such a Big Deal? (doorwaysarizona.com)
- What if Your Child Is the Bully? (doorwaysarizona.com)
- 7 Signs Your Child is Being Bullied (doorwaysarizona.com)
