Do you remember when you or a friend were bullied as a child?
When I attended school, or at least all 7 of them, I never had the chance to embed learning, never mind any friendships! Always the tallest in class and despite my physical presence, moving from school to school created anxiety and a growing lack of confidence. This naturally opened the door to bullying … Thank goodness there was no social media in the 1980s, because I can only imagine growing up in a digital world today, presents far more challenges for our children than you and I could ever imagine. (@TeacherToolkit)
As we know, bullying can manifest itself in different forms; we may remember a time when our friends – our even ourselves – were bullied at school. As parents and teachers, we may shun harmless ‘name-calling‘ as mindless fun and ‘the things children do‘, but we should always be mindful of the various forms of bullying and what we can do about it.
Anti-Bullying Week in England is coordinated by the Anti-Bullying Alliance and takes place from 14th-18th November 2016.
What is Anti-Bullying Week?
Anti-Bullying Week shines a spotlight on bullying and encourages all children, teachers and parents to take action against bullying throughout the year.
- To support children and young people to use their Power for Good – by understanding the ways in which they are powerful and encouraging individual and collective action to stop bullying and create the best world possible.
- To help parents and carers to use their Power for Good – through supporting children with issues relating to bullying and working together with schools to stop bullying.
- To encourage all teachers, school support staff and youth workers to use their Power for Good– by valuing the difference they can make in a child’s life, and taking individual and collective action to prevent bullying and create safe environments where children can thrive.
Tips for parents and carers:
- If your child is being bullied, don’t panic
- Bullying is never acceptable; and should always be taken seriously
- Try and establish the facts
- Find out what your child wants to happen
- You may be tempted to tell your child to retaliate but this can have unpredictable results
- Encourage your child to get involved in activities that build their confidence.
Tips for teachers:
- Bullying is not just something that children and teenagers go through
- It is not a child’s fault if they are bullied
- Children need to be supported to speak out
- The only way to stop bullying is to acknowledge that it happens
- Challenge all forms of offensive or discriminatory language
- Take time to talk.
Access free Anti-Bullying Week resources including lesson plans, assemblies and top tips. (Anti-Bullying Alliance)
How can you get involved?
- Please ask your MP to support Anti-Bullying Week 2016
- Join the Anti-Bullying Week social media campaign .
- FAQs.
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