Resources to inform Parents, Kids, and Teens About Bullying

October is National Anti-Bullying Month here in the US, and we will be spending this week posting about bullying and persecution. We hope that you will be blessed by what you read.

This week we have talked about bullying and persecution. Below are some resources that parents can use with their kids and teens.This is by no means a comprehensive list, but some resources that we have personally researched/viewed.

Children:

Bullying Prevention videos on EducationalTrainingVideos.com: there are several to look at and choose from. A good place to shop for videos and resources to use in a classroom or church.

The Berenstein Bears and the Bully: by Stan and Jan Berenstein, these classic characters are always loved by kids young and old. Sister Bear has to deal with a bully. The content is a little dated, but still relevant. My daughter enjoyed it immensely. This is a link to their page on Amazon.

Help Me to Be Good: Bullying by Joy Berry: Part of the Help Me to Be Good series, this book has a slightly moe modern approach, and urges children to be Christ-like in offering kindness to bullies, avoiding, and going to adults for help. This is a link to their entry on ChristianBook.com. 








Teens:

To Save a Life: This film appeals to teens because it is real, and although a faith-based film, it is a little gritty. A popular young man regrets the way he treated an old friend, sees his need to change, and through his belief in Jesus, becomes a new person and deals with the consequences of his actions. I have yet to meet a person who watched this that disliked it. NOT appropriate for young children, as it contains content about sex, drugs, drinking, and suicide. This is a link to the IMDB entry for this movie.

Cyberbully: An ABC Family production, this movie also strikes a chord with teens due to its open, real, and brutally honest portrayal of teen behavior. Emily Osment stars as Taylor Hillridge, a pretty but slightly awkward girl who becomes the subject of intense bullying, both online and in the halls at school. Some reviewrs have said it's a bit melodramatic, and that may be true, but I personally remember high school and remember girls very much like the antagonists in this film. This is the IMDB link. NOT apropriate for childre as it contains refereces to sex.




StopBullying.gov: US Government resources for teachers and parents of kids of all ages.

Again, this is not reotely a conclusive list. There are numerous books and video for all ages that talk about the subject. Please look online (Youtube is a great resource), and at your local library. Parents can also check with their local schools, which may have resources and can also share what they use with their students, as well as outline their anit-bullyig policies.

We hope that you have founnd something useful in what we posted this week. Please talk to your children and be active in their lives. Remember, YOU are their best earthly advocate. God Bless You.

Melissa McGinnis is the Children's Ministry Director for LHF.

Elementary School Bullying: "The Playground Bully"

October is National Anti-Bullying Month here in the US, and we will be spending this week posting about bullying and persecution. We hope that you will be blessed by what you read.

Many people today think of teenagers when they think of bullying, but the truth is it’s still a problem in the elementary schoolyard. The days of the "playground bully" exchanging a bloody nose for lunch money may seem dated, but haven't really disappeared; while money doesn't usually exchange hands, they still taunt the "weird kid" the "four-eyed kid," and the "fat kid." Despite the best efforts of a teacher/monitor/aide/coach/driver, there is no possible way to see and hear every single interaction between kids, especially in places like the playground, the gym, cafeteria, or school bus. While the motives have adjusted slightly with the times, there is still the very real possibility your child may be tormented by a bully.

My daughter, who is 5 and attending kindergarten, has already brought home stories of mean, bullying behavior from her classmates. Some has been directed at her (one of her classmates apparently has something to say about her wardrobe nearly every day), and some directed at her friends (one of her classmates went home with her braided hair full of dirt).

Here is a brief video where she talks about what to do when a bully is being mean:

Bottom line: a bully is rarely a bully for no reason; children are often bullies because they've been bullied. Talk to your children, find out as much of the whole story as possible, and if a problem persists, talk to your child’s teacher. Oftentimes, your child is not alone and other parents have done the same. Explain the steps you can take with your child: avoidance, forgiveness, kindness, alerting an adult. Enrolling your child in a class for self-defense, karate, etc. may make the child feel more confident, but always be sure your child understands fighting is the very last resort.

On Friday, we will post reviews and info about books and videos for your family that talk about bullying. One way I found information was to go to the public library and search for the keyword “bully.” I hope that you also find great info for your family.

Melissa McGinnis is the Children's Ministry Director for LHF.