National Bullying Prevention Month is celebrated in October in the United States. It is recognized in communities across the country, with hundreds of schools and organizations signing on as partners and engaging in activities, education, and awareness building.
Bullying has come more into focus in recent years as a threat to the health and welfare of victims. The use of force, threat, or coercion to abuse or intimidate others is more recognized and less tolerated than ever before, especially in our schools where it is called peer abuse.
We all need to recognize abuse and take steps to stop it. We need to take measures to anticipate it and prevent it from happening. Becoming aware of the negative impact of bullying, organizations are becoming involved as part of an international movement to change the attitudes and actions of bullies and to show support for victims and potential victims.
Anti-Bullying Organizations, Programs & Communities Spread Awareness
Many organizations are involved in providing direction, education, and events supporting anti-bullying including PACER’s National Bullying Prevention Center and STOMP Out Bullying™.
The PACER organization encourages students, parents, and others to become more aware of the effects of bullying and its consequences. PACER was created to not only raise awareness of bullying but also to change the culture surrounding it. It was once thought of as merely a harmless rite of passage for children. But it has led to problems like school avoidance, loss of self-esteem, depression, and even self-harm and suicide.
STOMP Out Bullying™ is known as one of the country’s leading national anti-bullying and cyberbullying organization for children in the U.S. It brings attention to issues like bullying, cyberbullying, sexting and other digital abuse.
It educates against homophobia, LGBTQ discrimination, violence, racism, and hatred in schools, as well as online and in communities throughout the country. It promotes inclusion and equality throughout the country and internationally.
Leading merchandisers and news and information providers have become active partners with STOMP Out Bullying™ including ABC and ABC Family, Aeropostale, Armour Foods, ESPN, Fox Sports Supports, Hollister, iHeartMedia, JCPenney, Planet Fitness and Boys & Girls Clubs of America.
National Bullying Prevention Month Themes & Activities
October is the time when schools and organizations across the country join STOMP Out Bullying™ in observing National Bullying Prevention Month by encouraging positive steps to create an environment of acceptance, equality, and compassion in children of all ages.
Monday, October 1st, 2018 – #BlueUp
Monday, October 1, is the day when everyone is encouraged to wear blue. The idea is the signature campaign of STOMP Out Bullying™ and part of its World Day of Bullying Prevention™ celebrated very first Monday in October.
School children will be wearing STOMP Out Bullying “2018 Limited Edition” Blue Shirts or will wear their own blue shirts to send a message that this is the day that bullying prevention is heard around the world. It’s an effort to change the culture. Over 100,000 children will be impacted by Blue Shirt Day® World Day of Bullying Prevention™ funding.
Week of October 8th – Make New Friends
This week, students are encouraged to make friends with someone they don’t know at school. They can help someone who might feel “left out” or isolated. It’s a chance for students to become leaders at their school.
It’s also the week children are encouraged to make acts of kindness and challenge their friends and classmates to do the same. October 11th is National Coming Out Day and the day for celebrating the coming out of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, or LGBTQ questioning, or to acknowledge support.
Week of October 15th – STAND UP for Others
Students are encouraged to stand up for anyone they see being bullied. Experience shows that many bullies back off when other kids stand up for the victims. If kids don’t feel safe about it, they are asked to seek an adult for support.
Students can show support in many ways for anti-bullying including having “kindness” dances, posting positive notes on bulletin boards, sharing positive stories, or creating anti-bullying videos. Stories and videos can be shared on the STOMP Out Bullying website.
Week of October 22nd – Inclusion Week
This is the week students are asked to make sure that “no one eats alone” in a cafeteria or on a field trip. Students should include other students in school activities and after-school activities.
The entire month is one where students should be learning about other students, especially those who have a different culture or mode of life. The idea is to show that everyone is together and no one should feel insecure or intimidated.Students are asked to “ditch the label.”
Week of October 29th – Start Conversations Among Peers
Students are being asked to start conversations with other students to find out how their school can better deal with bullying and how it is better to be a judgment-free school.
STOMP Out Bullying offers a Student Participation Toolkit to begin conversations on how a school can be judgment-free and bully-free.
Working Together to Stop Bullying & Cyberbullying
There are many warning signs of bullying, children come home with torn, damaged, or missing pieces of clothing or books. They have unexplained cuts or bruises. They seem to have few friends at school. They show anxiety about going to school or riding on school buses. They have trouble sleeping or complain of physical illnesses. They seem depressed or lack self-esteem. These are all possible signals that parents should recognize.
What are some steps to take to support your child? Have a discussion with your children about the dangers of social media and revealing personal information or posting inflammatory comments. Teach them to use common sense on their phones as well as their computers. Teach them to be cautious on social media and not be drawn into group conversations that might be harmful to someone else.
Using IM or text-messaging can be just as dangerous as can be personal videos and photos. Parents need to be aware of the electronic media their children use and familiar with online protocols, message boards, chat lines, social sites, and video sites.
Bullying is a practice that has lasted for a long time. While we probably can’t eliminate it completely, we parents, teachers, and caring organizations can do our part to reduce its occurrence and impact on the children we have the chance to influence and support.