SUPPORT NATIONAL BULLYING PREVENTION MONTH THIS OCTOBER
BOCA RATON, FL (October 1, 2024) – National Bullying Prevention Month is observed annually in October. Throughout this month, individuals, schools, organizations, and communities come together to raise awareness about the harmful effects of bullying and to promote kindness, empathy, and inclusion. It serves as a crucial time to engage in discussions, educational activities, and campaigns to prevent and address bullying in all its forms.
Bullying may include in-person or online behavior, known as cyberbullying. It’s become a significant issue in schools, where one in five students now report experiencing bullying behavior. Students may be bullied for their physical appearance, race, ethnicity, gender, disability, religion, or sexual orientation, among other reasons.
The good news is that research indicates that bullying prevention programs can help reduce bullying at school. These programs can help potential bullies recognize and stop their behavior. They can also empower victims, giving them the support they need in the face of bullying.
Addressing and preventing bullying is something that everyone can do every day. Though we should focus on creating an anti-bullying culture year-round, by highlighting and bringing attention to this issue during October, we have a better chance of preventing bullying and helping the victims. National Bullying Prevention Month serves as a reminder that we each have a role to play in its prevention.
We can unite to create a safer, kinder environment for all youth. Below are some simple yet impactful ways you can take part in supporting National Bullying Prevention Month because no child should ever have to endure bullying.
Read An Anti-Bullying Book
Kids at any grade or reading level can learn more about bullying and prevention by reading. Share a picture book during story time or urge older kids to read a novel with an anti-bullying message and share their thoughts. Click here for some of our favorite picks for every age.
Start A Bullying Prevention Program
If your school doesn’t have an anti-bullying program, October is the month to start one. Additionally, Kindness Matters 365 (KM365) provides programming to foster the development and well-being of children and teens, supporting them to explore resilience, empathy, and essential life skills to discover how to care for themselves, each other, and our world. To start a program in your school or community, visit km365.org/ambassador.
Encourage Student Upstanders
Look for student leaders who can create a positive and supportive culture at your school. They can help others learn to become upstanders: people who avoid bullying others and know when and how to stand up for victims safely. Click here to learn more.
Hang Anti-Bullying & Kindness Posters
Spread the message of kindness and inclusivity through visuals. Click here for a great collection of free printable kindness posters, or check out this selection of anti-bullying décor on Amazon. Another great idea is to encourage students to create posters, banners, and other artwork to advocate your school or community’s anti-bullying culture.
Build A Kindness Chain
Give each child in your school or community organization a strip of colorful paper and ask them to write a message of encouragement or kindness on theirs. Then, link all the strips together to make a giant chain. Hang it in a common space to show you’re all united in this together.
Participate in Unity Day
October 16th is Unity Day, a nationwide movement to unite for kindness, acceptance, and inclusion and to send a message that no child should ever have to endure bullying. Encourage individuals to wear orange that day and plan bullying prevention activities for all. Click here for additional resources and ways you can take part.
Take An Anti-Bullying Pledge
Take the pledge to stand up against bullying. Share schoolwide or throughout your community to encourage others to do the same. Click here to download our printable pledges or create your own.
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ABOUT KINDNESS MATTERS 365
Kindness Matters 365 (KM365) is a registered 501(c)(3) non-profit based in Boca Raton, FL, that has positively impacted our youth and communities since 2008. KM365 fosters the well-being and development of children and teens through education, development, and community engagement. Through after-school programs, virtual programs, assemblies, and hands-on community problem-solving initiatives, kids explore KM365’s framework of topics to develop resilience, empathy, and essential life skills to discover how to best care for themselves, each other, and our world. KM365 is a vetted vendor of programming and training for the Florida Department of Education’s Safe and Healthy School Enrichment for Learning division and is a designated service provider to schools in Florida. Since its inception, KM365 has grown to encompass 142 programs and has served over 25,000 children and teens. Visit kindnessmatters365.org for more information and follow KM365 on social media via Facebook @kindnessmatters365org and Instagram @kindnessmatters365.
