Bullying is a major concern of parents, educators and community members, especially bullying among our youth. This October, organizations and communities everywhere, including Playworks, will make preventing bullying a priority as we commemorate National Bullying Prevention Month. As everyone moves forward to make strides in preventing this tragic epidemic, here are some things you should know:
Four facts about bullying
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More than 3.2 million students are victims of bullying each year.
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Children who have a learning disability or ADHD are more likely to be bullied. They also are a little more likely to bully others.
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Children who are obese are more likely to be bullied.
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Bullying and name-calling occurs more often on elementary school playgrounds than any other place in school, including lunchrooms and hallways.1
Five ways you can participate
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Wear orange on October 9, Unity Day, to show your support to students who have experienced bullying.
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Be empathetic. The simple act of considering others’ experiences in your everyday life–at work, home or otherwise–helps to decrease bullying. Kindness is contagious.
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Stand up. If you observe teasing, name calling or outright bullying, stand up for the victim. This simple act can empower the victim, yourself and the other bystanders.
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Teach prevention! In our schools and communities, we must address bullying when it occurs. But to truly stop bullying, we must prevent most of it in the first place. This means teaching kindness, empathy, inclusion, positive communication, conflict resolution skills and more.
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Follow along this month on the blog for more tips and conversation topics on bullying.
How will you commemorate National Bullying Prevention Month?
