Bullying is Serious; So Stop It

Note: I am a ‘ShineBright’ Ambassador and have been compensated for my participation. All opinions are my own. “Bullying Is Serious So Stop It”

Without starting my soap box on bullying and/or teasing, I want to say how passionate about supporting non-bullying. As I mentioned in my earlier post, Shine Bright Like Rudolph This Holiday Season, I am in the process of teaching my girls not to be the aggressor. It is important to me that my kids grow up in a home that shows equality and love.

That is why I was so proud to join as a #ShineBright Ambassador this holiday season. Both, Staci and I had a chance to sit down with our younger girls to watch the classic Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer. With in this timeless show, Rudolph tries to hide his red nose from his peers. In turn, his reindeer friends make fun of Rudolph and his glowing red nose.

After the show we took a moment to ask if they liked it when the other reindeer picked on Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer. We, also asked if they have ever been teased or bullyed by another person, how did it make them feel?

Overall, Jaden and Jaci, both have had some sort of bullying before, but luckily wasn’t severe. I explained that no one wants to be talked down to, made fun of, or taken advantage of. Luckily both little ladies agreed to was not how they wanted to be treated. They are are both Anti-Bullying advocates.

Download Rudolph Classroom Activities to Prevent Bullying

Use these amazing resources in Pacer’s Educator’s Guide to spark the conversation in your classroom or at home with your children to celebrate differences and acceptance. You can download the guide for free here.

Bullying Is Serious So Stop It

What is bullying? At first glance, it might appear that this behavior is easy to define. A common image of bullying might be of a physically intimidating boy beating up a smaller classmate or of one child shoving another inside a hallway locker. While that is still considered bullying, it’s important to know that bullying behaviors can be much more complex and varied than historical stereotypes.

For example, while some bullying is physical and easy to recognize, bullying can also occur quietly and covertly, through gossip or on a smart phone or the internet, causing emotional damage.

As a starting point, there are elements that are included in most definitions of bullying. Although definitions vary from source to source, most agree that an act is defined as bullying when:

• The behavior hurts, humiliates, or harms another person physically or emotionally.
• Those targeted by the behavior have difficulty stopping the action directed at them, and struggle to defend themselves.
• There is also a real or perceived “imbalance of power,” which is described as when the student with the bullying behavior has more “power,” either physically, socially, or emotionally, such as a higher social status, or is physically larger or emotionally intimidating.