October is National Bullying Month…Let’s STOMP Out Bullying!

When I was in elementary school, I was the source of a lot of teasing. Not only did I have red hair, but I also had freckles, crooked teeth, very fair skin and was tall and skinny and didn’t shave my leg until I was in 6th grade (so I was hairy too)! I came home in tears so many times because the other kids were mean to me. I feel like today it’s so much worse. Not only does bullying involve name calling and teasing, but it now involves physical violence. I HATE bullying and want to put a stop to it. So I encourage everyone to support and donate to an anti-hate youth engagement program in your community.

It really hit home one day when one of our boys came home and said this kid had bullied him at school. He had pushed him and grabbed him by the throat. As a concerned mother, I comforted my confused and distraught son and then immediately contacted the principal and his teacher. Because it was during school hours, resolving the issue was handled by the principal and teacher. I honestly wish there was more that could have been done to deal with it, but thankfully, it hasn’t happened since. Bullying takes a variety of forms – it’s not only emotional or physical and there are signs when your child is being bullied.

Forms of bullying include the following:

• Physical (hitting, punching, beating)
• Verbal (teasing, name calling, threats)
• Emotional (intimidation using gestures, social exclusion, threats)
• Sexual
• Racist Bullying
• Cyberbullying (Online harassment, hate messages, threats, impersonation, and other digital abuse)
• Hazing

12 Signs Your Child is Being Bullied

• Your child comes home with torn, damaged, or missing pieces of clothing, books, or other belongings
• Has unexplained cuts, bruises, and scratches
• Has few, if any friends, with whom he or she spends time
• Seems afraid of going to school, walking to and from school, riding the school bus, or taking part in organized activities with peers
• Finds or makes up excuses as to why they can’t go to school
• Takes a long out of the way route when walking to or from school
• Has lost interest in school work or suddenly begins to do poorly in school
• Appears sad, moody, teary, or depressed when he or she comes home
• Complains frequently of headaches, stomachaches or other physical ailments
• Has trouble sleeping or has frequent bad dreams
• Experiences a loss of appetite
• Appears anxious and suffers from low self-esteem

October is National Bullying Prevention Month! Stand Up and make a difference by raising awareness to bullying prevention! JoinSTOMP Out Bullying™ TODAY for Blue Shirt Day® World Day Of Bullying Prevention! GO BLUE and make it the day bullying prevention is heard around the world. Check out these great articles on Bullying and what you can to do to STOMP it out!  Here are a few ways you can STOMP Out Bullying!

Ways to STOMP Out Bullying

• Report Bullying
• Be a Friend to Someone Who is Being Bullied
• Stand Up to the Bully
• Read more HERE on details on how to STOMP Out Bullying.

Be sure to follow STOMP Out Bullying on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.

Have your children been involved with bullying?
How did you STOMP it out?