October is National Bulling Prevention Month

Standing up to bullying and violence helps create a culture of kindness.

Every October, schools and organizations across the country join STOMP Out Bullying™ in observing National Bullying Prevention Month.

The goal: encourage schools, communities and organizations to work together to stop bullying and cyberbullying and put an end to hatred and racism by increasing awareness of the prevalence and impact of all forms of bullying on all children of all ages.

Anti-bullying activities include STOMP Out Bullying™’s signature campaign World Day of Bullying Prevention™ on the first Monday of every October — this year on Monday, October 7th.
This is your chance to make bullying prevention heard around the world! You can begin to change the culture by putting an end to Bullying and Cyberbullying!

This is your month to take leadership at your school and carry it through all-year-round!

Week of Monday, October 7th 2019

  • Make friends with someone you don’t know at school. You probably wish someone had done that for you if you were new at a school or just felt left out.
  • Be a leader. Take action and don’t let anyone at school be in isolation.
  • Do a random act of kindness and challenge friends and classmates to pay it forward with their acts of kindness.

Week of Monday, October 14th 2019

  • Stand up for others week. When you see someone being bullied, be brave an STAND UP for them. Bullies have been known to back off when others stand up for victims.
  • Be part of the solution – not the problem! If you don’t feel safe get the help of an adult immediately.
  • It’s a time to see everyone’s uniqueness and differences and celebrate our similarities. Create positive messages on post-its and had them out to students at school.

Week of Monday, October 21st 2019

  • Week of Inclusion –
  • Don’t let anyone at school eat alone in the cafeteria or on a school field trip. Make it the week of #NOONEEATSALONE
  • Include other students in school and after school activities
  • Invite someone you don’t know that well to sit next to you on the bus. Learn about each other.
  • At one point or another each of us has felt insecure, or stressed out, or alone. It is important to remind our friends and classmates that we are all in it together and we are there to listen and support each other.
  • Use the hashtag #HereForYouon social media to let your classmates know that they have your support and a person to reach out to if they ever need to talk.

Week of Monday, October 21st 2019

  • Meet with other students – Discuss how you can Change The Culture at your school.

 

Be sure to visit the StopBullying.gov for resources, advice or if you need to speak with someone immediately. Educate yourself on the warning signs below, whether your child is being bullied or bullying another child, it is important to know what to look for.

Warning Signs for Bullying

There are many warning signs that may indicate that someone is affected by bullying—either being bullied or bullying others. Recognizing the warning signs is an important first step in taking action against bullying. Not all children who are bullied or are bullying others ask for help.

It is important to talk with children who show signs of being bullied or bullying others. These warning signs can also point to other issues or problems, such as depression or substance abuse. Talking to the child can help identify the root of the problem.

Signs a Child Is Being Bullied

Look for changes in the child. However, be aware that not all children who are bullied exhibit warning signs.

Some signs that may point to a bullying problem are:

  • Unexplainable injuries
  • Lost or destroyed clothing, books, electronics, or jewelry
  • Frequent headaches or stomach aches, feeling sick or faking illness
  • Changes in eating habits, like suddenly skipping meals or binge eating. Kids may come home from school hungry because they did not eat lunch.
  • Difficulty sleeping or frequent nightmares
  • Declining grades, loss of interest in schoolwork, or not wanting to go to school
  • Sudden loss of friends or avoidance of social situations
  • Feelings of helplessness or decreased self esteem
  • Self-destructive behaviors such as running away from home, harming themselves, or talking about suicide

If you know someone in serious distress or danger, don’t ignore the problem. Get help right away.

Signs a Child is Bullying Others

Kids may be bullying others if they:

  • Get into physical or verbal fights
  • Have friends who bully others
  • Are increasingly aggressive
  • Get sent to the principal’s office or to detention frequently
  • Have unexplained extra money or new belongings
  • Blame others for their problems
  • Don’t accept responsibility for their actions
  • Are competitive and worry about their reputation or popularity

Why don’t kids ask for help?

Statistics from the 2012 Indicators of School Crime and Safety – PDFexit disclaimer icon show that an adult was notified in less than half (40%) of bullying incidents. Kids don’t tell adults for many reasons:

  • Bullying can make a child feel helpless. Kids may want to handle it on their own to feel in control again. They may fear being seen as weak or a tattletale.
  • Kids may fear backlash from the kid who bullied them.
  • Bullying can be a humiliating experience. Kids may not want adults to know what is being said about them, whether true or false. They may also fear that adults will judge them or punish them for being weak.
  • Kids who are bullied may already feel socially isolated. They may feel like no one cares or could understand.
  • Kids may fear being rejected by their peers. Friends can help protect kids from bullying, and kids can fear losing this support.
On October 1, 2019   /   Blog