Bullying prevention is a partnership between school and home. Families can make a difference by keeping the lines of communication open and regularly talking with children about friendships, school experiences, group chats, social media, and how they and their peers treat one another.
Encourage your child to identify trusted adults they can turn to when something doesn't feel right. Talk about what they can safely do if they witness someone being mistreated such as getting an adult, refusing to join in or laugh, checking on the student afterward, or reporting what they saw.
Being an upstander applies online, too. Remind children that liking, sharing, forwarding, commenting on, or reposting hurtful content can increase its impact. Instead, encourage them to avoid participating, save evidence when appropriate, support the person being targeted, and tell a trusted adult.
Children also learn from what they see. Modeling kindness, empathy, inclusion, and respect for others helps reinforce the behaviors we want to see in our schools and communities.
Talk. Notice. Include. Speak Up. Together, we can help create communities where every student feels safe, supported, and valued.
More bullying prevention information and resources can be found on the HCPSS Stop Bullying website.