Concerned about bullying? Why not make a point to educate yourself and others during Bullying Prevention Month?
Photo credit: michaeljung/shutterstock
The Covid-19 coronavirus pandemic makes it challenging to organize observances or host other public activities, yet there are still lots of ways to join the movement to stop bullying.
Pacer’s National Bullying Prevention Center provides innovative resources for students, parents, educators, and others. Pacer recognizes bullying as a serious community issue that impacts education, physical and emotional health, and the safety and well-being of students.
The coordinators of the Tompkins County Bullying Prevention Task Force issued a page of Bullying Prevention Resources highlighting some of Pacer’s free online resources to engage students in social and emotional learning amid Covid-19 restrictions.
The resources include videos, art projects, role playing, pledge signing, and other activities that can be organized during Bullying Prevention Month.
Throughout October, the Tompkins County Youth Services Department and The Sophie Fund are hosting a social media campaign promoting bullying prevention awareness.
Designed by Ithaca College students Nicole Brokaw and Anna Moura, the campaign spotlights issues such as cyberbullying, preventing bullying, dating abuse, sexting, and smart social networking. The messaging is based on the work of organizations such as the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and the Cyberbullying Research Center.
“I think a lot of bullying can stem from fear and misunderstanding,” said Brokaw, 21, of Forest Hill, Maryland. “Being bullied can exacerbate low self-esteem in students, or compound the effects of any number of factors, like depression or anxiety, that can cause students to miss school or isolate themselves. Everyone deserves to be happy and confident and to have a supportive social circle.”
Moura, 20, of Forest Hills, Queens, reminds that bullying is no joke. “People tend to think it’s child’s play or that kids grow out of it, but what they don’t understand are the brutal and long-lasting effects that it can have on the individual,” she said. “Bullying consists of many other types of harassment, including discrimination and sexual harassment, which people usually don’t consider.”
The success of young people is dependent on their feelings of safety and connection to others, according to Bridgette Nugent, deputy director of the Tompkins County Youth Services Department and co-coordinator of the Tompkins County Bullying Prevention Task Force. “It is important to bring awareness to the serious issue of bullying and the need for a community response to address its negative impacts on our county’s youth,” she said.
Nugent calls attention to the aspect of cyberbullying. “During this time of ongoing social distancing and virtual learning, we must not forget that bullying exists both in-person and via the internet. We hope that by raising awareness and energizing the community throughout the month of October, we can engage with students, families, and community members to work towards an end to bullying in our county.”
Click any of the links to check out the campaign’s social media posts and share.
https://www.facebook.com/ToCoYouth/
https://www.facebook.com/thesophiefund/
https://www.instagram.com/thesophiefund/
Additional resources, including A Brief Guide to Youth Bullying Prevention, are available at http://www.thesophiefund.org/bullying/.
Bullying Prevention Month Poster [DOWNLOAD]
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