Hooray for Time For Kids!

In the World Report Edition, dated October 9, 2009, an informative article on Bullies was published. The title is Bullies Beware! The article explains that October 4-10 is Bullying Prevention Week! What a great way to create awareness of Bully Prevention! The article states that in July, 2009, the American Academy of Pediatrics published, for the first time, official guidelines for what pediatricians should know about bullying and what they should say and do to prevent it from happening. It also emphasizes the importance of the role all adults play in reducing bullying. There are many anti-bullying curricula that are taught in elementary schools around the country. The Open-Circle, Second Step, Bully-Proof and Quit-It , are just a few of the Social and Emotional Curricula that I have taught. These programs reinforce techniques to use when a child feels uncomfortable and all of them encourage parent and other adult involvement in order for them to be successful. Unfortunately, many of the adults are not involved. I strongly agree with Sue Limber, an expert on school bullying and a Professor at Clemson University in South Carolina. She states, "When adults all work together-and work with kids-we can reduce bullying". I think every school needs to have a required bully-prevention curriculum and adult participation needs to be mandatory in order to reduce bullying in America! Elizabeth