October is National Bullying Prevention Month, and while this anti-bullying book is written for kids, there are some timeless lessons that aren’t restricted to kids.  In fact, I just finished a post for my PR Firm website for today’s 2nd Annual Snark Free Day that talks about workplace bullying, so the topic spans from the playground to the boardroom.

Thanks to Bli Marston Dugi, M-PAC, author of “The Principle Gang,” a book series on anti-bullying for kids aged 4-11, for this guest post.  Dugi says that school is stressful enough without worrying about “that mean kid,” and that according to the National Education Agency, 160,000 students stay home from school everyday due to bullying.

He shares some powerful ways that parents can be part of the solution by being present, setting good examples, and being brave themselves.  Here’s his story…

It is paramount for parents to take an active role in their child’s education.   Take part in regular conversations pertaining to school at home and interact as much as possible on school campuses. This active role is the first step parents can take to bully proof their children.

A parental presence is the number one deterrent for childhood bullies. Bullies prefer to be sneaky most of the time. It is very easy for parents and teachers to identify the kid that is mean to everyone, but it is very difficult to identify the kid that is quietly mean to just one person. This “quietly mean” child can be the one who causes the most damage. Psychological abuse in the form of damaging words can leave life-long scars that far surpass any physical abuse that one may encounter. If your child has a “best friend” but still seems to be withdrawn or unhappy, evaluate this friendship immediately. Ask what games are being played at school. Ask your child whom they are sitting with at lunch. Ask more than “how was your day?” When you ask more, you decrease the chances of having the “it was fine” or the one answer “good” become another day that a potential problem was ignored.

Mean parents raise mean children. As parents, you need to be aware of those “mean parents” that you may encounter. It is a no-brainer that behavior is modeled, so the unfortunate result is the development of mean kids. Don’t spend every day of the school year in the pick-up or drop-off line. Walk your child into school once a week to reinforce a parental presence. Make it a priority to attend a school-sponsored field trip, and attend at least 2 class parties throughout the year. By engaging in conversation with other parents and teachers, parents make themselves “available” to discuss any problems that may be occurring. During this interaction, be on the look out for those mean parents that seem to have a bad attitude every time you encounter them and guide your child’s choice of friends accordingly.

Don’t be afraid to shake up your social circle. Parents have to be able to openly discuss the difficult issues that arise with each other without taking offense. Children are not emotionally mature enough to always act appropriately, but parents should be. Undoubtedly, problems can and will arise between children of the same social circle that need to be addressed by parents. The key is to deal with these problems directly with the parent whose child is involved and leave out the uninvolved families. Often times, parents are quick to complain to a third party, as they are worried about upsetting their “social circle”. Parents must stand together or a greater degree of division will occur between the children.

There are very important tips to share with children to keep them from either becoming a bully or becoming the victim of a bully. These critical messages are very simple and should be reinforced throughout the school year.\

1.  DON’T BE MEAN.

Kids need to be able to RECOGNIZE what “mean” is: hurtful words, pushing/shoving/kicking, alienation, exclusion, facial reactions, etc…

2. TELL YOUR TEACHER.

Once a child recognizes this type of behavior, he/she needs to be given the okay to REPORT this behavior to a parent/teacher/counselor/principal, etc. Stop labeling children as “tattle-tales”. Tattle –tales save lives.

3.  BE A FRIEND.

After an incident has been reported, it is now time to REACT. A child needs to know that the nicer they are to all children, the less chance they have of being bullied. Encourage your child to be the one that reaches out to the child who has no friends.

MORE INFO:

There are No Bullies Allowed in The Principle Gang, a six-book series that teaches kids (ages 4-11) three anti-bullying principles: 1) Don’t be mean, 2) Tell your teacher, and 3) Be a friend. Questions at the end of each book encourage kids and parents/caregivers to engage in thought-provoking conversations about family, friendship, community and fairness. Book 1, Don’t Judge a Lizard by His Scales, released in August, and Book 2, Wizard Lizard Rides the Subway, releases this month.

Dr. Dan and Bli Dugi have a combined 50 years experience as a physician and physician assistant team. With The Principle Gang series, they have created a way to connect with young children outside of the exam room. They live in Cuero, Texas, with their daughter, Emmy. Find them online at The Principle Gang.