October is National Bullying Prevention Month, and to start the month, my daughters and I were part of a local Dallas event titled “Bully Free Future Youth Summit” (BFF).
This anti-bullying event was sponsored by the City of Dallas, the Dallas Police Department, Belinda Ramsey (Miss Texas 2010 and operator of MOB – Moms Opposing Bullies), and many more!
Bullying is a form of abuse that can be physical, verbal, or psychological. It can be based on:
Race (where they are from or the color of their skin)
Religious views
Appearance (height, weight, etc.)
Gender (for being a boy or being a girl, or however else they identify)
Sexuality (who they are attracted to)
Ability (what they can or cannot do)
Or simple things like the way they talk, the way they walk, or the way they spell their name.
Bullying is often caused by “an imbalance of power” where people look like they can’t and won’t stand up for themselves. This may include:
- calling others names
- saying or writing nasty things about them
- leaving them out of activities
- not talking to them
- threatening them
- making them feel uncomfortable or scared
- taking or damaging their things
- hitting or kicking them
- or making them do things they don’t want to do.
At the Bully Free Future event, I taught workshops about “How to Stop and Prevent Cyberbullying.”
Cyberbullying is bullying through technology: e-mail, chat/IM, social networks, text messaging, etc.
Bullying hurts and it must be stopped. Children, teens, and even adults that are picked on, embarrassed, harassed and humiliated sometimes end up taking their own lives.
As parents and teachers, we must do more than wear purple this month, we must really educate our children to be anti-bullying advocates:
- Communicate with children. Be someone they can trust and come to for answers.
- Teach children to stand up for their friends and themselves. Being a bystander sends the message that someone’s behavior is acceptable.
- Teach children to be compassionate and treat others the way they would like to be treated (the golden rule).
I pledge to do my best to stop and prevent bullying and cyberbullying. What is your pledge?
Elayna is a single mom of 4, award-winning Storyteller, Story Strategist, and Student of Pain. She’s a bestselling author, internationally acclaimed keynote speaker, and 4x TEDx speaker. Founder of the Positive MOM® and creator of the S.T.O.R.Y. System: a blueprint to craft and share powerful stories that will transform your results, so you can have the wealth, opportunities, and freedom you deserve. Connect with Elayna Fernández at thepositivemom.com/keynote-speaker and follow @thepositivemom. To receive a gift from Elayna, click HERE.
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Windy
Tuesday 27th of December 2011
Superintendents, teachers, PTA, school districts, parents, kids, communities across the nation can now come together to help combat two top issues facing kids. Bullying and childhood obesity.
After frequently seeing two top issues bullying and childhood obesity on the internet and in the headlines and a diverse group of friends and strangers got together in hope of making a difference. Rocking It For Life was started to motivate, inspire, encourage and empower children. The aim is to change the culture of bullying, build good character and provide positive input while having fun and getting fit. As Rock It help promote a happier and healthier mind and body. This is more than a anti-bully rally, wearing a pink or purple T shirt for a day, posting character building posters or a character lesson over the intercom.
Rocking It For Life provides a fun new and unique way to help combat the two top issues children are facing as unity, teamwork and partners are formed Rocking It Across America with children, parents, schools, churches, YMCA’s, Boys and Girls Clubs and so many others who really want to make a difference in these matters.
Rocking It For Life want to help kids get a fresh start in 2012. Most kids face a lot of challenges whether being bullied, experiencing depression, not having a good home life, experiencing negative peer pressure or even being obese. Today they experience an over whelming amount of negative input and stress. This upcoming year can be the beginning of kids living their best life into adulthood.
Rocking It For life can help decrease bullying, build good character, increase confidence, build self-esteem, motivate kids to say no to negative peer pressure, give hope and decrease depression all while kids enjoy getting fit and healthy.
Headlines/Statistics: Alarming increase in childhood obesity, children suffering with Diabetes and diseases usually seen in adults. This is the first generation not expected to live longer than their parents. It cost the US $150 billion dollars annually on obesity related disorders. At least 50% of students bullied other kids. Being bullied can have negative lingering effects in adulthood. Everyday 160,000 kids miss school because they are afraid of being bullied.
All over the internet hundreds of kids and adults comment about how they suffered from being bullied. A lot of them said it was reported, but nothing was done. Now more laws and policies are passed regarding bullying, but we need to do more to change the culture of bullying, build good character and restore civility.
Together we can make a difference. Family, friends galore, schools, churches, YMCA's, Boys and Girls Clubs, etc join the Nationwide Rock It Across America Challenge to help change the culture of bullying, encourage a safer learning atmosphere and environment for students and educators while kids get fit and healthy. United, teamwork and connected there is power showing nationwide support that all of us are on one accord affirming every child is important and bullying is not acceptable. Rock It is a fun, new and unique character building exercise CD/DVD created by diverse groups of kids who want to make a difference, that has anti-bully input, builds self-esteem, builds confidence, encourages kids to achieve and instill values while providing an effective workout.
Teressa Morris
Friday 21st of October 2011
Thank you for what you are doing to help prevent bullying!! Both of my sons were bullied and I have written about it on my blog as well as posting some tips and tricks to deal with childhood bullying http://wizkey.wordpress.com/parenting/bullying/