Bullying: October’s Other Scary Theme

Photo credit: Craig Dingle

​When most people think of October, Halloween and scary masks are some of the first things that come to mind. However, October is also a month to recognize a far more frightening reality: Bullying. October 1st marks the beginning of National Bully Prevention Month, a campaign started in 2006 by the PACER’s National Bully Prevention Center to bring awareness to the issue of bullying and bully prevention. Throughout the month of October, communities all over the country unite to educate those around them about what bullying looks like, the long term effects of bullying, and what can be done to prevent this epidemic from spreading.

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Photo found on Pacer.org/bullying

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​National Bully Prevention Month is only a piece of PACER’s National Bully Prevention Center, which is a branch of the PACER Center, an advocacy and resource center for parents of children with disabilities. In 2000, the PACER Center began receiving more and more calls from parents whose children were being bullied as a result of their disabilities. These parents felt at a loss and were desperate for resources to guide them through this difficult situation.  In response, the PACER center began creating curriculum and guides to help parents and children with disabilities respond to bullying situations. By 2005, the center could see the positive impact their work was having and decided that these resources needed to be available to all children, not just those with disabilities. In 2006, PACER’s National Bully Prevention Center was born. Today, the center is a hub of resources and a leader in bully prevention, partnering with individuals and organizations such as Bethany Mota, Disney, Green Giant, and Frito-Lay to bring an end to bullying.

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Photo found on pacerteensagainstbullying.org

Photo found on pacer.org/bullying

Photo found on pacer.org/bullying

Photo found on girlsontherunlv.com

​One question you may be asking: “is it really necessary to have an entire center dedicated to bully prevention? Is bullying really that big of a problem?” Sadly, yes. Recent studies report that 1 in 4 children experience bullying in the U.S. and 30% of young people admit to having acted as a bully. Perhaps more frightening is the fact that this behavior has been reported among children as young as 3. From poor grades, depression, dysfunctional future relationships, anxiety, heart issues, weight difficulties, and even a higher tendency toward criminal activity, the effects of bullying, on both victims and bullies, can be far reaching and can last a lifetime.

The numbers aren’t all bad, though. It has also been shown that in 57% of cases, bullying stops when a peer intervenes and school based prevention programs have decreased bullying incidents by 25%.

Change is happening.

The best part of all: you can be a part of that change! PACER’s National Bully Prevention Center provides a wide variety of ways you can get involved in National Bully Prevention Month and join with thousands of other throughout the country to end bullying and bring help to those who have been bullies or who are bullies themselves. Here are a few ways you can get involved:
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• Go Orange! This is one of the easiest ways to show your support and raise awareness. While the entire month of October is set aside to bring awareness to the issue of bullying, October 21st is a special day within National Bully Prevention Month called Unity Day. On this day, people everywhere are encouraged to wear orange, decorate their cars, trees, and classrooms in orange, cook orange food, and anything else they can think of to do that involves orange. Orange is the color of bully prevention, so bedecking yourself and your belongings in the bright color will provide an easy opening to begin talking about this vital topic.

• Participate in, sponsor, or organize a Run, Walk, Roll Against Bullying in your community. These are family friendly events that bring the entire community together to stand against bullying. They can be as simple as a short course walked or run in unity, or they can involve concerts, games, and other activities that support the cause of bully prevention! These events are a wonderful way to visually show those who have been bullied in the community that they are not alone.

Unity Day Celebrations; Images found on pacer.org/bullying

Photo found on pacer.org/bullying

• Create posters informing others about the reality of bullying and its affects and post them throughout your community. Often, people are simply unaware that a problem exists. Help spread the word and practice your creativity all at the same time!

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• Practice kindness in your own life. This may seem like a trivial task, but studies reveal that kindness is catching. Additionally, children learn by example. If we are name calling and not practicing empathy, how can we expect the children around us to do so? It is one thing to tell someone to stop bullying, but we must also provide an alternative form of behavior. Start making kindness a priority in your life and I can guarantee you will see a change for the better. 

Photo found on pacer.org/bullying

​These are just a few of nearly limitless options for raising awareness about bullying. Find a way to use your gifts and talents like these kids did! The important thing is to spread the word. What ideas do you have for ways to celebrate National Bully Prevention Month this year? Let us know in the comments!

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In celebration of National Bully Prevention Month, we will be highlighting a different bully prevention organization, author, or individual working towards bringing bullying to an end each week this month on Laughing Leopard Blog! Our first feature will be an interview with L.A. Kefalos, author of This is A. Blob, a picture book featuring a sticky, purple bully named A. Blob, who may have more to him than first meets the eye. Check back here next week for exclusive insights into what inspired L.A. to write This is A. Blob and what message she would like to convey to her readers!

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​A. Blob is back, and this time it's on a bus! As the slimy bully pokes and pesters the children of Lincoln Elementary School, it seems like they will never be able to ride the bus in peace. That is, until one brave girl takes stand. 

Can one act of bravery change everything--including A. Blob? Find out in this second installment of The Blob Series

​Before it was on a bus, A. Blob was on the playground. This first installment of The Blob Series follows the antics of A. Blob, as it wreaks havoc on the elementary school playground with its bullying ways. As the story progresses, however, readers learn that A. Blob may have more than meets the eye.

Along with its powerful illustrations and rhymed verse for early readers, this story invites children to put themselves in the shoes of another and encourages readers to consider why bullies behave the way they do – and start to consider what can be done to help.