School has Started – Bullying Does Not Have To

Children and teens who are victims of bullying or are bullies themselves have a much higher chance of being invlolved in situations of domestic violence as adults

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services stated that just because school has started doesn’t mean bullying has to start, too. Kids, parents and school officials can help to prevent or stop bullying. At HHS’ Administration for Children and Families, Dr. George Askew has some suggestions about how parents can help when their children say they are being bullied, “Listen to them. Try to know who their friends are. I know that’s much easier said than done. But really be actively engaged in who they are hanging out with and whether they are hanging out with anyone or are they alone – and if they are alone is that by choice or because they are being excluded.”

All children should know bullying is unacceptable – and how to get help.

Askew also says it’s important for adults to model how to treat others with kindness and respect.

I have often written about this subject and if you need some tips, check out my article, Discuss Bullying with Your Kids from May 2013.

Bullying is NOT just a school issue! The media’s attention has been focusing on the ex-NFL player Ray Rice and him knocking out his fiance’ on an elevator, but when you look at the statistics from Micah’s Place, “Children and teens who are victims of bullying or are bullies themselves have a much higher chance of being invlolved in situations of domestic violence as adults.”

They said in March 2014:

“If the headlines in newspapers around the country are any indication, bullying is one of the major problems facing Americas youth and schools today. There have been numerous studies conducted on the issue of bullying, and the numbers all tell the same story:

• Nearly 1 out of 6 students in grades 6-10 are bullied every year
• 6 out of 10 teens witness bullying every day
• 160,000 students miss school every day out of fear of bullying
• 1 in 10 students who drop out of school do so because of repeated bullying
• Bullying has been linked to 75% of all school shootings”

October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month, so lets STOP the cycle now!!!
…but to break the cycle of domestic violence, we must also address the issue of bullying.

For this reason, Micah’s Place developed a curriculum for middle and high school students that focuses on bullying and dating violence. Led by a Micah’s Place staff member, students cover topics such as the effects of bullying, healthy and unhealthy traits of relationships, what to do when you encounter bullying, and the importance of talking to a trusted adult. Students also learn the warning signs of dating violence, and some safety strategies to use if they or a friend are involved in an abusive relationship.

For more information about their bullying and dating violence programs, please contact them at (904) 491-6364 or visit www.micahsplace.org.