Bullying is an epidemic that impacts children of all ages. It reaches its peak in middle school, where 44 percent of schools report at least one incidence of bullying each week. In reality, the real number of incidents is likely much higher: children (and adults) often fail to report ongoing bullying because of fear appearing "uncool," or becoming a target themselves.
Now is always a good time for educators and parents to empower children with the resources and confidence they need to prevent to bullying.
"It can be incredibly hard stand up to bullying, especially if no one else is challenging the behavior," say authors Cindy Miller, a school social worker, and Cynthia Lowen, producer and writer of the documentary film, Bully. "In these situations, it can require an extra measure of independent thinking by your child to recognize that what she's witnessing is wrong, and confidence in her own values to step in and do something about it."
In their book The Essential Guide to Bullying: Prevention and Intervention, Miller and Lowen offer 10 tips* for helping turn bystanders - those who are aware of a bullying situation but do nothing to prevent it - safely become upstanders - those students or adults who call attention to bullying and work to protect children who are targeted:
*Note: Although written in the feminine, all of these indicators apply equally to boys and girls.
Source: The Essential Guide to Bullying [1]
Links:
[1] http://www.amazon.com/dp/1615642064
[2] https://www.momsteam.com/bullying-sports-teams-advice-parents
[3] https://www.momsteam.com/bullying/athletes-asked-stand-up-against-school-bullying
[4] https://www.momsteam.com/health-safety/ten-ways-tell-if-your-child-bully