Stand for the Silent offers tips to prepare kids now for back-to-school bullying

Many parents are already thinking about what they need to do to prepare their children for the new school year that is just around the corner. While what they will wear and do after school is essential, making sure they know what to do about back-to-school bullies should be at the top of every parent’s priority list. Bullies will also be heading back to school, and they will be ready to start picking on children from day one.

“Summer is a great time to prepare kids for the new school year, including teaching them how to overcome bullies.” said Kirk Smalley, co-founder of Stand for the Silent. “By addressing this issue now, we will ensure a smooth and harassment-free school year.”

During the summer, there is much that parents can do to raise awareness about bullying at home and in the community. Making it a priority can help reduce bullying incidents at school and in the community. Proactive communities can raise awareness about the issue, which can help reduce incidents.

According to the National Institutes of Health, certain risk factors can make people more vulnerable to bullying. These include being seen as different from peers, weak or unable to defend themselves, having low self-esteem, being less popular, not socializing well with others, and having disabilities.

Here are some tips to prepare children now for back-to-school bullying:

• Talk about bullying now. Discuss bullying, including what it is and what to do about it. Talk about the different types of bullying, how to deal with it, and what to do if you see someone else being bullied.

• Role play. Act out some bullying scenes with the children so they can practice their responses. This will help them feel more comfortable if the real situation ever arises.

• Get others involved. Parents can start anti-bullying groups now, which will help get more children involved in tackling bullying at school. Children can come together to discuss the problem and how to address it.

• Contact the school. Most schools have staff who work during the summer. Contact the child’s school to inquire about starting an anti-bullying campaign at the start of the school year. Help them bring in a speaker, such as Stand for the Silent, and get a group of children together for the anti-bullying task force.

• Teach them self-defense. It’s never a good idea to encourage your child to fight, but there are self-defense techniques they can learn to protect themselves in the event of physical violence. Bullies tend to target those they don’t think will fight back. Teach your children self-defense over the summer, such as by enrolling them in karate classes. When children are confident, they are more likely to stand up to a bully, causing them to lose interest in the person.

“This school year, we will reward students who contribute to the fight against bullying in their school,” Smalley added. “We want to encourage students to lead by example and help create a more caring and tolerant school atmosphere.”

Stand for the Silent is launching a program this school year called Student Stand Out. Teachers can nominate students they feel stand out for their kindness, anti-bullying, positive attitude, good leadership, respect and integrity, and actions that demonstrate initiative to end bullying in their schools. Each week during the school year, one nominee will be selected to receive a $50 Visa gift card, and at the end of each semester, one person will be selected to win a $100 gift card. The nomination period runs from August 1 to December 1, and again from January 1 to April 1. For more information about the program, visit: standforthesilent.org/schools/standout.

Stand for the Silent travels the country hosting seminars and conferences for communities and schools. It also provides helpful online resources to help people dealing with bullying issues. It also awards scholarships each year to students who help combat bullying in their schools. For more information on how to present to the organization or start a local chapter, visit standforthesilent.org.

Smalley and his wife, Laura, started the 501(c))3) organization after their 11-year-old son took his own life due to bullying. They turned their pain and loss into a mission to help others. He travels the country giving presentations on bullying in schools, providing bullying prevention, giving scholarships, offering intervention strategies, and more. Those interested in getting involved can start a chapter of the group in their area, get a free K-2 bullying prevention curriculum or a cyberbullying handbook for parents, host a presentation at their school, show the How All Started video, and donate to support the cause. For more information, visit standforthesilent.org.