Monthly Archives: October 2011

Oct
29
2011

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Oct
29
2011

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Oct
19
2011

 

I read a great post about bullying today and I wanted to share it with every one. I found the post on a site called Bur Bur and Friends. Bur Bur And Friends was created by two amazing moms-JoAnne Pastel and Kakie Fitzsimmons. Being moms of multiracial, multicultural kids, they both were having a hard time finding books and toys that reflect the reality of our diverse world. Identifying this unmet need in the market, they created Farmer’s Hat Productions® to launch their own line of children’s books and products.

The Bur Bur and Friends characters are based on actual children, including their own. These unique books, educational toys and products mirror our contemporary world and promote self-esteem through participation in sports, outdoor exploration and active play.

As co-creators and co-authors of the Bur Bur and Friends series, JoAnne and Kakie’s work has been recognized for excellence by numerous educational, parenting and media organizations.

Here’s an excerpt from their article on Bullying:

As parents it’s important to listen to our children closely and watch for warning signs that could indicate that our child is being bullied. Indicators include: 

  •          Coming home with damaged or missing clothing or other belongings
  •          Losing items such as books, electronics, clothing, or jewelry
  •          Unexplained injuries
  •          Complaining of frequent headaches, stomachaches or feeling sick
  •          Trouble sleeping or frequent bad dreams
  •          Changes in eating habits
  •          Hurting themselves
  •          Being very hungry after school from not eating their lunch
  •          Running away from home
  •          Losing interest in visiting or talking with friends
  •          Afraid of going to school or other activities with peers
  •          Losing interest in school work or beginning to do poorly in school
  •          Appearing sad, moody, angry, anxious or depressed when they come home
  •          Talking about suicide
  •          Feeling helpless
  •          Often feeling like they are not good enough
  •          Blaming themselves for their problems
  •          Suddenly has fewer friends
  •          Avoiding certain places
  •          Acting differently than usual
 
 

If you think your child is being bullied, take the situation seriously.”

 

To read  more of the is article or visit Bur Bur And Friends  go to http://burburandfriends.com/about/

 
Oct
17
2011

Earlier this month…October 3rd to be exact, something really cool happened.

People all across the USA joined in and supported STOMP Out Bullying™ in it Third Annual BLUE SHIRT DAY ™ – WORLD DAY OF BULLYING PREVENTION where students, schools, and others wore blue shirts in solidarity to STOMP Out Bullying. The day was super successful as hundred of thousands went blue across the globe.

I have to admit, until now I had never heard of STOMP Out Bullying™ . Maybe it’s because I just never noticed or maybe now there is just more of an urgency to “spread the word” in the media. STOMP has in the past attracted tons of celeb talent and this year was no different. Global Ambassadors include: Actress Brittany Snow, recording artist Sean Kingston, singer and producer Lance Bass, singer and actress Emily Osment, singer JoJo, Z100 radio host Carolina Bermudez, Pretty Little Liars star Tyler Blackburn, Switched At Birth star Katie LeClerc, actress Melissa Joan Hart, TV Host Maria Sansone, soap opera stars Kristen Alderson and Brittany Underwood and child star Coy Stewart.

“Since 2005 STOMP Out Bullying™, a national anti-bullying and cyberbullying program for kids and teens works on reducing and preventing bullying, cyberbullying, sexting and other digital abuse, educating against homophobia, racism and hatred, decreasing school absenteeism, and deterring violence in schools, online and in communities across the country. It teaches effective solutions on how to respond to all forms of bullying; as well as educating kids and teens in school and online, providing help for those in need and at risk of suicide, raising awareness and offers peer mentoring programs in schools.” **excerpt from The Open Press.

Victims of bullying need a safe haven and this program offers information and resources, a 24/7 HelpChat line for kids and teens who are bullied, cyberbullied and at-risk for suicide, to an online area where they can talk about bullying. There’s also guidance on getting involved in social media efforts, using petition signing to raise awareness, and a cool Student Participation Toolkit. 

What some sucky stats? 1 out of 4 kids are bullied, 9 out of 10 LGBT kids are harassed every day, 43% of teens, 97% of middle schoolers and 47% of older teens 18-24 are cyberbullied, and over 160,000 kids stay home from school everyday for fear of being bullied.

Holy crap.

Parents need to be aware and informed. Keeping the lines of communication open with their tweens and teens is critical. Ask questions beyond “how was your day?” KNOW who their on-line friends are and take steps to responsibly manage their on-line activities. Tools like SocialScanner and Mobsafety are in place to assist you on keeping your kids safe. You don’t need to be Super Mom or Super Dad and do this by yourself. Let us help you.

For more information on STOMP:

Media Relations
1.877.N0BULLY (8559)
media@loveourchildrenusa.org
www.stompoutbullying.org