You and Me, Bully Free! Bullying Prevention Strategy for Today

It’s back to school time!
Let’s make it a great year not only for our own kids but for the kids they’ll meet along the way.

You and Me, Bully Free! Bullying Prevention Strategy for Today–
For kids:
1) Include someone new today – in your conversation, at your lunch table, in your game, on your team, as part of your project.
2) Go ahead and be brave. Be the one who practices “all are welcome here”.

For the adults in their lives:
1) Include someone new today – in your conversation, at your lunch table, in an introduction you might be making, while opening a door.
2) Be the one who models “all are welcome here”.

Bullying prevention facts:
1) Bystanders are usually watching when kids get bullied.
Child bystanders were present in 85% or more of the bullying incidents in playgrounds and classrooms.
2) Most kids who watch bullying feel uncomfortable.
80-90% of bystanders reported that watching bullying was unpleasant and made them feel uncomfortable.
Many kids also felt they should step in to help a child who was being bullied.

However –
3) Most kids who watch bullying do nothing to stop it.
Being uncomfortable rarely translates into action. Only ~10% of kids – one out of 10 – stood up for the target.

The Good News! –
4) Kids who try to stop the bullying usually make things better.
When bystanders intervened to stand up for the target, they were successful in stopping the bullying more than 50% of the time – usually within the first 10 seconds.

Try today’s You and Me, Bully Free! tip.
Stop bully behavior before it even starts by including kids who are often left out.