Stop Bullying and More Kindness (National Bullying Prevention Month 2024)

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Approximately ten percent of students drop out of school because of bullying. Every year more students witness and report bullying in their schools. Seventy percent of students witness bullying, and it continues to be an issue in elementary, middle school, and in high schools. This year’s National Bullying Prevention theme is Kindness, Acceptance, and Inclusion. Encourage your children to do acts of kindness.

In addition to acts of kindness, wear orange throughout October to bring awareness of National Bullying Prevention in schools and in college. Wear a bracelet that says kindness, be kind, or make a kind bracelet as reminder to practice kindness when you are in school or in college. Use alphabet beads and orange beads to make your kind bracelet for yourself and for your friends. Also, as a parent make a kind bracelet and wear it to encourage your children to do acts of kindness. Another option is to wear a be kind T-shirt or kindness on a T-shirt. 

Have a conversation with your children so they know that bullying can occur online and in person. Review the signs of bullying and how they can stop it before they get hurt. Additionally speak to your university or college adults about bullying prevention. Make and sign a pledge to include, accept, and to be kind to everyone. Moreover, preventing bullying can be done by walking away from the bullying. 

Tell your professor, a principal, or another adult about the bullying situations. Say no or stop when they make jokes, ask for money, or unwanted touching. As a parent be aware and understand the emojis that are used in text messages. Some emojis can give you clues on what is going on in school. The eye in a speech bubble means witness of bullying.

Other emojis have sexual references. Remember to take a screen shot for evidence of bullying to show to the school principal. Get training for National Bullying Prevention Month. Print out handouts to have a conversation about bullying. Notice any changes in their behavior, attitude, sleep, and eating habits. 

Tell them not to give their telephone number to the entire school class. As well as telling them that it is fine to block telephone numbers from unknown callers and from the students that are bullying them. Let them know not to participate in bullying. Decorate your dining table with orange items and have a daily routine to have a conversation about bullying. Use an orange light bulb to light your porch entrance. 

Use the hash tags, Be Kind and Stop the Bullying on social media. Get to know the policies and rules from the school, college, or university regarding bullying. It is estimated that at the age of thirteen bullying might begin. However, it might begin at an earlier age. Here are websites about stopping and preventing bullying. 

 

Stop Bullying:

Stop Bullying

PACER's National Bullying Prevention Center:

PACER's National Bullying Prevention Center

Bullying at University-Family Lives:

Bullying at University-Family Lives

* Courtesy Social Media Image from PACER.org