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Not sure how to help your child react to bullying situations? This website offers constructive feedback to parents on how to help their child stand up to bullying. It also illustrates the important role the bystander has to stop bullying.

Staff, G. (2019, December 9). 9 ways to eliminate bullying. Parenting. https://www.greatschools.org/gk/articles/how-to-deal-with-a-bully/

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1. Teach children to speak up immediately

A mother from Alabama writes: "Our daughter attends a local public school. We had a difficult time with bullies in first grade late last year. The majority of the problem was with two kids terrorizing or ganging up together (a brother and sister) against our 6-year-old on the bus. It started with one of them grabbing her lunch bag and literally helping themselves to whatever they felt like taking from our daughter, whether it was her lunch, snacks, drinks, milk money, etc. Our daughter would not speak up or tell me at all. It went on for a while until she became physically ill and a nurse called me from school. We went outside and talked and I immediately went back to her classroom and talked to her teacher, the boy's teacher, the nurses and then the principal. She handled it immediately by calling the parents while we were in the office. The children went to the time-out room, and I requested my daughter's bus seat be changed and moved closer to the driver. This worked, combined with telling my daughter over and over how wrong it was and that she needed to speak up and tell someone immediately.

"Some advice to other parents: A. Take the time and talk to your kids every day and ask how their day goes and really pay attention. I had no clue until my daughter complained of stomach aches and started requesting I drive her to school. It was very unlike her. B. Don't approach the bullies yourself or get on the bus. Let the school reach out to the parents and go from there. This is the first thing that I learned besides teaching myself to breathe properly again. Do talk to and inform your child's teacher, the nurses and the bullies' teacher. C. Do coach your kids how wrong it is to be picked on and that they aren't doing anything wrong by seeking out their teacher, a counselor, the principal and/or you. They need to understand they are the victim, they are not tattling or being the 'troublemaker' as our daughter thought. D. I bought some books on bullying and donated two copies to the school. I bought extras for us and we read them frequently at home. I also believe that kids have to be taught how to talk nice and be a friend.

"What our school is doing: We have a new principal this year. The school has mini-seminars about bullying, respect, etc. for the kids. But this year our school made up a contract between the school and the students, for each and every student to read and sign. The parents have to read and sign it as well and return it to the schools office. It has a lot of points and good information, but in general, the contract states good behavior will be expected and demanded at all times during the school day. It talks about respect towards the school, the teacher and classmates. The kids must keep their hands and feet to themselves at all times. It talks about misbehavior on a bus may lead to punishment, including suspension and expulsion from school. We have a list of the bus rules. The school's policy handbook was very thick this year and informative. Also, what goes hand-in-hand are the school's motto: "The three R's = respectful, responsible and resourceful." The motto and definitions are on a form and all of the kids had to sign this form and return it to school."

2. Don't be blind to signs that your child might be being bullied

The Illinois mother of a seventh grade boy writes, "I am currently involved in stopping bullying behaviors that are directed at my son. Last year, in his sixth grade year, he was being bullied and I did not know. He had constant headaches, wanted to stay home often, did not want to walk home from school (6 blocks away) and I did not put the scenario together. I took him to the doctor for headaches and thought he just did not want to walk home. When I discovered this year that he was being bullied last year, I was hurt. I felt like I was not a good parent and that my husband should have caught the signs. This year I am not the same mother. There is a bullying prevention program called Olweus that the school has adopted. But no matter how great the program, the child must be willing to tell. Children have a code of silence that is developed through fear and not wanting to tattle. My son is telling me what is going on this time and I have him report it to the teacher. I follow that conversation up because some teachers will drop the ball. I have the assistant principal involved and if it is not resolved immediately, I will involve the principal and then the legal system (press charges) if needed. Our children should not be victimized at school. Schools must have a safe, nurturing, educational environment. Sometimes I wonder at outbreaks of violence in schools around the country and what could have happened differently if the parents were more involved in their children's lives, not only at home, but in school also. How do you stop a bully? It has to be a joint collaboration between parents and the school."

3. Implement a school-wide anti-bullying program

A school official from Texas writes, "This month of October we are kicking off with the Olweus Bullying Prevention Program were all school staff will be trained on how to deal with bullying and it will be awesome as to how we will present it to the teachers, parents, and the students. We are seeing a lot of bullying in our sixth graders and we now are realizing how important it is to begin dealing with this issue. Our second step is to do a school-wide survey to see how many student at one point in their lives have been bullied."

4. Out the bully

"My children have been bullied, from being talked to rudely to being pushed down the stairs at school. I think the only satisfactory action is to out the bully, reporting them to the teacher or administration. If the school does not discipline the student then I would take my child out of school. My children have all attended private and public schools and private schools do not allow rudeness, children are taught to treat each other with respect as their teachers model. This has not always been the case in public school, but so far the children have been disciplined satisfactorily."

5. Volunteer at the school to observe for yourself

"I am a parent of a 12-year-old and a 9-year-old. Both my children asked me to be yard duty at lunch because of the bullying taking place and I was stunned by some behavior I witnessed. One boy was pulling down a girl's sweats - he likes her and this was his way of showing it. This is bullying. The typical forms of bullying are more common - excluding or labeling. I took the approach of asking the bully if they knew what they were doing, if they were aware of how their actions made the other child feel. This question has worked really, really well. Many kids aren't aware they are " being a bully " and once it's pointed out to them a light bulb seemed to turn on. No one wants to be a bully but perhaps they don't realize they fell into a pattern of bullying to get their way."

6. Develop a "solution mantra"

A mom from Mississippi writes, "My daughter had a problem with being one as a 3-year-old and has also been the victim. We developed a solution mantra we call My Three Options: Talk, Walk, and Tell the Teacher. Talk: Talk to your friend, tell them you don't like what they are doing or you would want them to do something else like share a toy or let you know when they are ready to give someone else a turn, etc. Walk: If talking doesn't work, walk away from the situation/person, find something else to do, someone/something else to play with, etc. Tell the Teacher: If talking and walking do not work, if the person is insistent on giving you a hard time, following you when you walk away, etc. then you get an adult who has some authority involved.

"Every morning my daughter and I talk about what it means to behave or be good in terms of following the classroom/school rules and using her three options and I have seen vast improvements in her behavior at school and in her enjoyment of school. Sometimes we role play too, making funny voices and faces and saying do we talk like this... no. We also have several words and actions clearly identified as unacceptable regardless of the perpetrator such as 'stupid', 'shut up', spitting, and getting in others' personal space whether with our hands or feet or face."

7. Get the whole school community involved

A mom from New Jersey writes, "I believe that the whole community is responsible for our children. It is obvious that parents and caregivers are primarily responsible for raising children, however, the community is also responsible for their care and well being.

When parents and caregivers along with teachers and coaches and members of the community, all come together in a basic philosophy to "reach out and connect" with our children we are all one step ahead of the game. The more people that know the child and show the child that there are people who know them and care about them, the more children will reach out for help, victims and more importantly, the bully himself."

8. A parent's visit to the school can make a difference

A parent of a 6-year-old writes, "I have a second grader who was being bullied the first week she started school (this is a new school for her and the young lady that did the bullying). My daughter is well versed in this kind of situation because this is not the first time something like this has happened. She knew to report the problem to her teacher and to the teacher of the little lady that was causing the problem. When that didn't work, because teachers seem to never believe the kids at first, I just went to the school and did as my daughter had previously done. I also let the "bully" see my face and know that I was aware of the situation, without saying, and we haven't had a problem since. I think that a parent's presence, at least at the elementary school level, can scare off a bully in some instances. It seemed to help when the other kid realized that my daughter was not alone."

9. Some tips from a school counselor

A licensed school counselor from New Mexico offers this advice: "I have found that how the victim acts is a critical factor as to whether the victim continues to get bullied or not. A lot of victims I have helped have tended to be the youngest or smallest in their family or class or for their age. Some have been the biggest or tallest or have some feature that other kids will pick on. As a result the victim may attempt to hide, be less noticeable, walk more slowly, cower, hide under his/her hoodie. Sadly such behaviors often only entice bullying further."

"One of the best defenses against bullying is the one-liner. The trick is in the delivery. For instance, if the victim delivers a one-liner without immediately walking away, he/she leaves him/herself open for verbal intimidation. This can attract attention which inevitably leads to people taking sides and an escalation of the situation. A one-liner is something that puts the responsibility back on the one initiating the confrontation, e. g., the victim says "Gee, I'm sorry you are having a really bad day today!" or "What a waste of a good brain!" If the victim can deliver this brief message, immediately walk away with head held high, the bully is usually too surprised or confused to immediately react.

"Bullies are usually victims of bullying themselves, i.e., from older siblings. Encouraging kids to have healthy personal boundaries is the first step to reduce bullying. Educating kids how to communicate appropriately, effectively and respectfully is something school staff and family can do. Ultimately kids need to know that whatever they are feeling, they can confide in a safe environment and trust that someone cares enough to pay attention to what they are saying."

Updated: December 9, 2019

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A mother from Alabama writes: "Our daughter attends a local public school. We had a difficult time with bullies in first grade late last year. The majority of the problem was with two kids terrorizing or ganging up together (a brother and sister) against our 6-year-old on the bus.

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Parents, the key to helping children overcome bullying situations! This website is directed toward parents by providing resources that will help them know what to do with their child when they are bullied. There is a community of parents working together to help each other, this website has endless resources for parenting bullied children!

Parents. (n.d.). The BULLY Project. https://www.thebullyproject.com/parents

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It's common for parents to feel powerless and frustrated when their kids are getting bullied. But often parents don't know it's happening. Parents play a vital role in supporting their kids, helping them be upstanders, and teaching and modeling empathy in the home and beyond. We've provided resources below to help you with these discussions and to empower you to stand up for your child effectively- when working with a school to resolve a bullying situation.

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It's common for parents to feel powerless and frustrated when their kids are getting bullied. But often parents don't know it's happening. Parents play a vital role in supporting their kids, helping them be upstanders, and teaching and modeling empathy in the home and beyond.

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StopBullying.gov

United States Department of Health and Human Services. (2023). What is Bullying. Retrieved from: https://www.stopbullying.gov/bullying/what-is-bullying

This website has resources for students and parents related to bullying and cyberbullying. The resources are endless: video clips, educational materials, hotlines, identifying bullying situations, identify cyberbullying situations, community resources etc...

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Stop Bullying on the Spot

When adults respond quickly and consistently to bullying behavior they send the message that it is not acceptable. Research shows this can stop bullying behavior over time.

Parents, school staff, and other adults in the community can help kids prevent bullying by talking about it, building a safe school environment, and creating a community-wide bullying prevention strategy.

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StopBullying.gov provides information from various government agencies on bullying, cyberbullying, prevention and response.

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Psychoeducational Group Demonstration

This video provides a demonstration of how to plan, perform, process and evaluate group implementation. It also gives a description of the types of groups education providers can deliver. This video gives a detailed account on how groups should work together to be successful at group work. The shared responsibility, research, planning, recruiting, and much more is modeled in this resource.

Microtraining Associates (Producer). (1999). Psychoeducational group demonstration. [Video file]. Alexandria, VA: Author.

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The Association for Specialist in Group Work (ASGW) is a great resource for those in a mental health capacity looking for a number of items. You can find group Ideas, support, and published articles. The following article gives a rundown of some of those resources and a list of the ASGW best practices for those working in group therapy.

Thomas, R. V., & Pender, D. A. (2008). Association for Specialists in Group Work: Best practice guidelines 2007 revisions. The Journal for Specialists in Group Work, 33(2), 111–117. doi:10.1080/01933920801971184

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The ASCA has developed group objectives and rationales about the roles of small group counseling and its impact in schools. ASCA states the impact small group counseling can have on an individual's social-emotional well-being, academic progress, and future goal setting.

American School Counselor Association. (2020). The school counselor and group counseling. Retrieved from https://www.schoolcounselor.org/Standards-Positions/Position-Statements/ASCA-Position-Statements/The-School-Counselor-and-Group-Counseling

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The School Counselor and Group Counseling

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Group counseling, which involves a number of students working on shared tasks and developing supportive relationships in a group setting, is an efficient, effective and positive way of providing direct service to students with academic, career and social/emotional developmental issues and situational concerns.

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de Vries, E. E., Verlinden, M., Rijlaarsdam, J., Jaddoe, V. W. V., Verhulst, F. C., Arseneault, L., & Tiemeier, H. (2018). Like father, like child: Early life family adversity and children’s bullying behaviors in elementary school. Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology, 46(7), 1481–1496. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10802-017-0380-8

This article looks into the *parental influence of fathers and mothers on their children ages birth to 6 years old. It takes into account how the parents look at the following situations: reported family distress, a father's hostility towards children preschool age, and the father's harsh discipline at the same age. While these factors have a big impact on a child's bullying behavior it was also seen that a mother's report of distress in the family correlates as well to a child's bullying behavior.

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Moore, S. E., Norman, R. E., Suetani, S., Thomas, H. J., Sly, P. D., &amp; Scott, J. G. (2017, March 22). Consequences of bullying victimization in childhood and adolescence: A systematic review and meta-analysis. World journal of psychiatry. Retrieved March 17, 2023, from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5371173/

This article identifies the health and psychological symptoms of someone who is a victim of bullying. The article goes on to conclude the connection of someone who is bullied and future mental health issues. It also highlights some of the interventions that schools could implement for mental health diagnosis prevention in adulthood.  The importance of interventions in schools is stressed here to avoid mental health illnesses.

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A needs assessment is a tool that counselors use to collect data on the issues that  students feel they need support on and parents/teachers may want support on. The target audience for my group’s needs assessment is 4th and 5th grade students.

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Pictured are numerous students teasing and shaming another student. They are all pointing, smiling, and laughing one student. This student is being bullied by more than 5 bullies.

How to stop bullying in school? Allison Academy. (2022, September 12). Retrieved March 19, 2023, from https://www.allisonacademy.com/parents/parenting/how-to-st

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This photo illustrates that one student is physically bullying another student by pulling on her hair.

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A number of students bullying one student on a school bus.

Contributor, S. T. N. (2022, April 22). Facing bullies head on. School Transportation News. Retrieved March 19, 2023, from https://stnonline.com/special-reports

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This is a picture of older students picking on a younger one.

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Wu, X., Zhen, R., Shen, L., Tan, R., & Zhou, X. (2023). Patterns of elementary school students’ bullying victimization: Roles of family and individual factors. Journal of Interpersonal Violence, 38(3–4), 2410–2431. https://doi.org/10.1177/088626052211011

This article takes a look at how the connection between family interaction impacts a child's protective factor when it comes to bullying behavior. It looks into how the time parents spend with children can be positive or negative. Finding positive parental interaction leads to lower instances of being bullied, and correlating negative parental interaction and low SE as a higher indicator for at risk bullying victimization.

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Plaistow 5th-grader appeals to school board over bullying - Bing video

This is a video showing a child taking action to their school board on how they intend to handle the bullying problem at her school.

bullying in 5th grade - Bing video. (n.d.). https://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=bullying+in+5th+grade&docid=603482603494080403&mid=65C528C87D805564464F65C528C87D805564464F&view=detail&FORM=VIRE

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A great video resource that shows a variety of styles of bullying, how kids and teachers interact with bullying. A great teaching resource on bullying.

Staake, J. (2022, October 17). 20 Best Anti-Bullying Videos To Share With Your Students. We Are Teachers. https://www.weareteachers.com/anti-bullying-videos/

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Bullying is an incredibly tough topic to tackle in the classroom. But the more we talk about it, the better our chances of making things safer for all kids. These anti-bullying videos help start conversations and provide kids with new points of view. There's something here for every age, so choose a few to share with your students as part of a larger program to address bullying.

1. Robot Bullies

Best for: Upper Elementary

After seeing her classmate Judy bullied by other classmates and going along with it, Nellie accidentally steps into a time machine. It transports her to the future, which is full of robot bullies. Nellie realizes she herself was a robot bully. When she returns to the present, Nellie stands up for Judy-and herself.

2. Anti-Bullying Squad

Best for: Elementary

The Anti-Bullying Squad (ABS) is here to help! This animated video features tips for standing up to bullies and seeking help when you need it.

3. Jeremy Anderson Anti-Bullying Video

Best for: Middle/High School

Anderson is a popular motivational speaker, and his anti-bullying message comes straight from the heart. He envisions a world where bullying has lost its power, and students will be inspired.

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4. Five Ways To Stop Bullying

Best for: Upper Elementary/Middle School

This is one of our favorite anti-bullying videos because it gives kids concrete steps to take. The five tips encourage kids to stand up to bullies and seek help when they need it.

5. Anti-Bullying Animated Short Film

Best for: Middle/High School

This wordless animated film doesn't pull any punches. It shows the violence associated with a lot of bullying and bullying's strong connection with suicide. This one will definitely open up a lot of paths for discussion in your classroom.

6. Anti-Bullying: It Only Takes One

Best for: Any Grade

This short, wordless video would make a great PSA on your morning announcements. Or use it to spark a creative writing assignment: What do you think happens before and after this video takes place?

7. Be the Change

Best for: Middle/High School

A student who's been bullied himself begins to bully others. Then he realizes it's up to him to break the chain. This may strike a chord with many kids who think it's OK to bully because they've experienced it themselves.

8. The Rainbow

Best for: Elementary

Sarah has trouble making friends until one girl decides to leave the others behind and join Sarah for some fun. This is a simplistic video, but it's good for younger students to start conversations around kindness and friendship.

9. Celebrities Anti-Bullying Video

Best for: Middle/High School

Kids might be surprised to learn that many of their favorites celebrities were bullied when they were in school. This video helps students realize that bullies don't have to ruin their lives. Pair it with other material that gives kids advice on how to stand up for themselves and others and when to involve adults.

10. McGruff Anti-Bullying Video

Best for: Elementary

Remember McGruff? He stars in this video, helping a little girl who's being bullied by teaching her to "Stop, talk, and walk." He also encourages other students to stand up when they see bullying and gives the bullies themselves a lesson too.

11. Sesame Street: Becoming an Upstander

Best for: Pre-K/Early Elementary

Big Bird wants to join the Good Bird Club but is surprised to find it's made up of bullies! This is one of the best anti-bullying videos for very young kids. It introduces the topic with characters they know and love.

12. Be an Upstander-Prevent Bullying

Best for: Elementary

Kids learn the difference between bystanders and upstanders in this video. Upstanders stand up to bullying, using one of the four options outlined here.

13. The Meanest Girl in Second Grade

Best for: Early Elementary

Zoe is mean, and she enjoys it. Then one day when she bullies a new student, her friends let her know that it's just not OK.

14. Bully: A Read-Along Story About Bullies for Kids

Best for: Pre-K/Early Elementary

This read-along story is about Lupi, who's bullied on the playground. His tale will resonate with younger kids who've already experienced mean behavior from others.

15. What Being Bullied Actually Does to You

Best for: Middle/High School

For a more informational approach, try this video. It's full of statistics and facts about bullying. It also provides info on programs that help fight bullying activity.

16. Protect Yourself Rules

Best for: Elementary

"No one ever has the right to hurt you or make you feel unsafe." It's important for kids to know that bullying is never ever OK. They need to learn to stop, walk away, and tell an adult they trust.

17. Jack Hartmann, Stop Bullying Now

Best for: Pre-K/Early Elementary

Jack Hartmann has a song for everything! This one urges kids to be kind to one another and stand up to bullies.

18. Captain McFinn: Help Kids Learn How To Stop Bullying

Best for: Early Elementary

The Coral Cuties of Sand Dusty Reef only invite certain fish to be their friends, and all the other fish think they're cool. When the Coral Cuties invite Gretta Grouper to play with them, she starts to feel cool like them, but realizes they just want to make fun of her. Gretta learns that everyone is special in their very own way, no matter what a bully may do or say.

19. What Is Bullying?

Best for: Upper Elementary/Middle School

Define bullying and learn more about why kids bully to begin with. The answer may surprise some students.

20. What To Do About Bullying

Best for: Upper Elementary/Middle School

This is the second part of video 19 above. Learn what you can do if you see bullying happen and how to help the victim.

What anti-bullying videos do you share with students? Come share or ask for advice on the WeAreTeachers HELPLINE group on Facebook.

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20 Best Anti-Bullying Videos To Share With Your Students

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Introduce this tough topic in your classroom with these anti-bullying videos. There are engaging options here for all ages and grades.

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American School Counselor Association. (2022). The School Counselor and Bullying/Harassment Prevention and the Promotion of Safe Schools. Retrieved from  https://www.schoolcounselor.org/Standards-Positions/Position-Statements/ASCA-Position-Statements/The-School-Counselor-and-the-Promotion-of-Safe-SchAdditional Resources

This information explains the role of school counselors in bullying situations. It also explains how school counselors can work with other school personnel to ensure safety for all students.

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The School Counselor and Bullying/Harassment Prevention and the Promotion of Safe Schools

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School counselors understand the positive effects of a safe and caring school environment. Through participation in prevention programs and activities aimed at anti-bullying, anti-harassment and violence prevention, school counselors foster opportunities for students to learn communication, problem solving and conflict resolution skills that help them achieve their goals and establish successful relationships.

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28 Must-Read Anti-Bullying Books for Kids of All Ages (weareteachers.com)

These are great resources for parents that can help them ask the tough questions and learn about bullying in a child's school or experience. Also, a place to find books that can help children process bullying and have the skills to support self-advocacy or advocacy for others.

Palmer, I. (2022, September 30). 28 Must-Read Anti-Bullying Books for Kids of All Ages. We Are Teachers. https://www.weareteachers.com/14-must-read-anti-bullying-books-for-kids/

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According to statistics from the National Bullying Prevention Center, one out of every five kids has been bullied. It's more important than ever to teach students about the negative effects of bullying and to do so as early as possible. With the help of our awesome teacher community, we compiled this list of anti-bullying books (organized from youngest to oldest) that address bullying, teasing, friendship, self-esteem, and more.

(Just a heads up, WeAreTeachers may collect a share of sales from the links on this page. We only recommend items our team loves!)

1. Stick and Stone by Beth Ferry

True friends stick up for one another, even when it's a little bit scary.

Buy it: Stick and Stone at Amazon

2. Stand Tall, Molly Lou Melon by Patty Lovell

Molly Lou is a unique individual, that's for sure. But her grandmother has taught her well. So when a bully picks on Molly, she knows just what to do.

Buy it: Stand Tall, Molly Lou Melon at Amazon

3. Chrysanthemum by Kevin Henkes

Anti-bullying books are hard to find for the younger set, but Chrysanthemum is a popular picture book about teasing, self-esteem, and acceptance. It has sold more than a million copies and was named a Notable Book for Children by the American Library Association.

Buy it: Chrysanthemum at Amazon

4. A Big Guy Took My Ball! by Mo Willems

Sometimes it's terrifying to be the little guy on campus. Will Piggie and Gerald figure out a way to survive the playground bully?

Buy it: A Big Guy Took My Ball! at Amazon

5. One by Kathryn Otoshi

In this beautiful and spare picture book, author Otoshi tackles what it means to exclude a peer-and why it's important to respect different personalities-in an artful and imaginative way.

Buy it: One at Amazon

6. The Recess Queen by Alexis O'Neill and Laura Huliska-Beith

Mean Jean is the recess queen, and it isn't until a new girl becomes her friend that recess dynamics change for the better. This book is ideal for addressing bullying that can be resolved without adult intervention.

Buy it: The Recess Queen at Amazon

7. The Juice Box Bully by Bob Sornson and Maria Dismondy

One of the best things kids can do to combat bullying is to stand up for one another, which is exactly what The Juice Box Bully is about. Students will learn how to have each other's back instead of doing nothing when they witness bully confrontation.

Buy it: The Juice Box Bully at Amazon

8. Willow Finds a Way by Lana Button

When bully Kristabelle starts uninviting kids to her birthday party, shy, quiet Willow decides she's had enough. Her simple act shocks everyone and changes the dynamic of the whole classroom.

Buy it: Willow Finds a Way at Amazon

9. I Walk With Vanessa by Kerascoët

This pictures-only storybook beautifully illustrates how one person's kindness can inspire an entire community to stand up to bullying.

Buy it: I Walk With Vanessa at Amazon

10. You, Me and Empathy by Jayneen Sanders

A very helpful book for teaching children about empathy, feelings, kindness, compassion, tolerance, and recognizing bullying behaviors.

Buy it: You, Me and Empathy at Amazon

11. Enemy Pie by Derek Munson

Readers will learn about the benefits of making new friends in this book. When Jeremy Ross tries to get rid of his enemy, his dad comes to the rescue. The catch? The only way for Jeremy to succeed is to spend an entire day playing with the enemy. Soon, his worst enemy turns into his best friend!

Buy it: Enemy Pie at Amazon

12. My Secret Bully by Trudy Ludwig

Monica and Katie have been friends since kindergarten, but the older they get, the more confusing the friendship becomes. Monica can't understand why Katie has started to exclude her and call her names.

Buy it: My Secret Bully at Amazon

13. The Hundred Dresses by Eleanor Estes

The Hundred Dresses won a Newbery Honor in 1945, proving that anti-bullying books have been around for a long time. This book follows a classmate who is ridiculed by bullies for wearing the same dress to school every day, while other students stand by and do nothing to help.

Buy it: The Hundred Dresses at Amazon

14. The Invisible Boy by Trudy Ludwig

This book sensitively addresses the needs of quieter children and reminds readers how small acts of kindness can help others feel included.

Buy it: The Invisible Boy at Amazon

15. No More Labels! by Denisha Cook and LaMonica Powers

With a focus on students with different abilities, this book teaches kids to build on their personal strengths, regardless of what labels-official or unofficial-the world puts on them.

Buy it: No More Labels! at Amazon

16. Each Kindness by Jacqueline Woodson

There are many messages in this book that follows the story of Chloe, who won't let the new girl, Maya, play with her and her friends. Eventually Maya stops coming to school, and Chloe realizes that a small act of kindness-like being Maya's friend-could have gone a long way.

Buy it: Each Kindness at Amazon

17. Bully by Patricia Polacco

Here's a book that takes on cyberbullying and cliques. When students begin teasing classmates on Facebook, Lyla knows something needs to be done. This is one of our fave anti-bullying books for our increasingly digitally savvy students.

Buy it: Bully at Amazon

18. The Bully Book by Eric Kahn Gale

This book pulls from actual events as the author loosely recounts what it was like when he was bullied in sixth grade. It incorporates both sides of bullying and addresses this ongoing issue in the lives of middle schoolers.

Buy it: The Bully Book at Amazon

19. Blubber by Judy Blume

Like many of Blume's novels, this one is enduringly relevant. While some of the references may elude young readers, the realistic ways kids speak and act-taking teasing too far until it escalates into physical bullying-make Blubber both a compelling story and an important look at the harm kids can do to one another.

Buy it: Blubber at Amazon

20. Wonder by R.J. Palacio

This uplifting novel follows August Pullman to fifth grade, which is his first time entering a mainstream school. August was born with a facial deformity, so he'll have to convince his classmates that he is normal, just like them, despite his appearance.

Buy it: Wonder at Amazon

21. Restart by Gordon Korman

Prolific middle-grade author Korman steps into a bully's shoes in this book. When Chase wakes up with a bump on his head and no memory of what he was like before his fall, he has to relearn who he was-and he's not sure he likes what he discovers. Can he be a better person with this second chance?

Buy it: Restart at Amazon

22. Real Friends by Shannon Hale and LeUyen Pham

What happens when your best friend since forever starts hanging out with the "popular" crowd? A story about how hard it is to find your real friends in life, but how the journey is worth it.

Buy it: Real Friends at Amazon

23. Wolf Hollow by Lauren Wolk

Heroine Annabelle must find her courage to stand up to a cruel bully and lead by example in this poignant tale set in the United States during World War II.

Buy it: Wolf Hollow at Amazon

24. Dear Bully: 70 Authors Tell Their Stories edited by Megan Kelley Hall and Carrie Jones

One of our favorite anti-bullying books, this is a must-read for teens. Today's top young adult authors contributed 70 heartfelt stories about bullying in this collection-from being a bystander to a victim to a bully themselves. The book also includes resources and suggestions for further reading.

Buy it: Dear Bully at Amazon

25. Tease by Amanda Maciel

This story is about a teenage girl who faces criminal charges for bullying after a classmate commits suicide. Now she's under attack as her peers, the community, and the media berate her for causing such a tragic event.

Buy it: Tease at Amazon

26. Side Effects May Vary by Julie Murphy

Sixteen-year-old Alice decides to settle the score with classmates after she is diagnosed with leukemia. Knowing she only has a few months left to live, she figures if she gets even and hurts people for the things they've done in the past, it won't matter in the future. To her surprise, she goes into remission and has to face the consequences of all she has said and done.

Buy it: Side Effects May Vary at Amazon

27. The Art of Being Normal by Lisa Williamson

Two trans teens have to rely on each other as they navigate school and life. This is a great pick for cis gender teens and tweens to better understand the trans experience.

Buy it: The Art of Being Normal at Amazon

28. It Gets Better: Coming Out, Overcoming Bullying, and Creating a Life Worth Living edited by Dan Savage and Terry Miller

Centered on the LGBTQ+ experience, this bestseller includes testimonials and essays by famous and successful adults who struggled as adolescents. No matter who is reading, there is much to be gained from this collection.

Buy it: It Gets Better at Amazon

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28 Must-Read Anti-Bullying Books for Kids

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It's more important than ever to teach students about the negative effects of bullying early-on. These anti-bullying books can help.

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I like this resource because it helps explain why children bully and what resources they may need to overcome their trauma or hurt. There is detailed information helping explain various bullying situations and how to help children know what to do in those situations.

Dealing with Bullies. (2023). Kids Health Behavioral Health Experts. Retrieved March 15, 2023, from https://kidshealth.org/en/kids/bullies.html

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Bullying is a big problem. It can make kids feel hurt, scared, sick, lonely, embarrassed, and sad. Bullies might hit, kick, or push to hurt people, or use words to call names, tease, or scare them.

A bully might say mean things about someone, grab a kid's stuff, make fun of someone, or leave a kid out of the group on purpose.

Some bullies threaten people or try to make them do things they don't want to do.

Bullying Is a Big Deal

Bullying is a big problem that affects lots of kids. Most kids say they have been bullied or teased. Being bullied can make kids feel really bad, and the stress of dealing with it can make them feel sick.

Bullying can make kids not want to play outside or go to school. It's hard to keep your mind on schoolwork when you're worried about how you're going to deal with the bully near your locker.

Bullying bothers everyone - and not just the kids who are getting picked on. Bullying can make school a place of fear and can lead to violence and more stress for everyone.

Why Do Bullies Act That Way?

Some bullies are looking for attention. They might think bullying is a way to be popular or to get what they want. Most bullies are trying to make themselves feel more important. When they pick on someone else, it can make them feel big and powerful.

Some bullies come from families where everyone is angry and shouting all the time. They may think that being angry, calling names, and pushing people around is a normal way to act. Some bullies are copying what they've seen someone else do. Some have been bullied themselves.

Sometimes bullies know that what they're doing or saying hurts other people. But other bullies may not really know how hurtful their actions can be. Most bullies don't understand or care about the feelings of others.

Bullies often pick on someone they think they can have power over. They might pick on kids who get upset easily or who have trouble sticking up for themselves. Getting a big reaction out of someone can make bullies feel like they have the power they want. Sometimes bullies pick on someone who is smarter than they are or different from them in some way. Sometimes bullies just pick on a kid for no reason at all.

Bullying: How to Handle It

So now you know that bullying is a big problem that affects a lot of kids, but what do you do if someone is bullying you? Our advice falls into two categories: preventing a run-in with the bully, and what to do if you end up face-to-face with the bully.

Preventing a Run-In With a Bully

Don't give the bully a chance. As much as you can, avoid the bully. You can't go into hiding or skip class, of course. But if you can take a different route and avoid the mean kid, do so.

Stand tall and be brave. When you're scared of another person, you're probably not feeling your bravest. But sometimes just acting brave is enough to stop a bully. How does a brave person look and act? Stand tall and you'll send the message: "Don't mess with me." It's easier to feel brave when you feel good about yourself. See the next tip!

Feel good about you. Nobody's perfect, but what can you do to look and feel your best? Maybe you'd like to be more fit. If so, maybe you'll decide to get more exercise, watch less TV, and eat healthier snacks. Or maybe you feel you look best when you shower in the morning before school. If so, you could decide to get up a little earlier so you can be clean and refreshed for the school day.

Get a buddy (and be a buddy). Two is better than one if you're trying to avoid being bullied. Make a plan to walk with a friend or two on the way to school, recess, lunch, or wherever you think you might meet the bully. Offer to do the same if a friend is having bully trouble. Get involved if you see bullying going on in your school - tell an adult, stick up for the kid being bullied, and tell the bully to stop.

If The Bully Says or Does Something to You

Ignore the bully. If you can, try your best to ignore the bully's threats. Pretend you don't hear them and walk away quickly to a place of safety. Bullies want a big reaction to their teasing and meanness. Acting as if you don't notice and don't care is like giving no reaction at all, and this just might stop a bully's behavior.

Stand up for yourself. Pretend to feel really brave and confident. Tell the bully "No! Stop it!" in a loud voice. Then walk away, or run if you have to. Kids also can stand up for each other by telling a bully to stop teasing or scaring someone else, and then walking away together. If a bully wants you to do something that you don't want to do, say "no!" and walk away. If you do what a bully says to do, the mean kid is more likely to keep bullying you. Bullies tend to pick on kids who don't stick up for themselves.

Don't bully back. Don't hit, kick, or push back to deal with someone bullying you or your friends. Fighting back just satisfies a bully and it's dangerous, too, because someone could get hurt. You're also likely to get in trouble. It's best to stay with others, stay safe, and get help from an adult.

Don't show your feelings. Plan ahead. How can you stop yourself from getting angry or showing you're upset? Try distracting yourself (counting backwards from 100, spelling the word 'turtle' backwards, etc.) to keep your mind occupied until you are out of the situation and somewhere safe where you can show your feelings.

Tell an adult. If you are being bullied, it's very important to tell an adult. Find someone you trust and talk about what is happening to you. Teachers, principals, parents, and lunchroom helpers at school can all help to stop bullying. Sometimes bullies stop as soon as a teacher finds out because they're afraid that they will be punished by parents. This is not tattling on someone who has done something small - bullying is wrong and it helps if everyone who gets bullied or sees someone being bullied speaks up.

What Happens to Bullies?

In the end, most bullies wind up in trouble. If they keep acting mean and hurtful, sooner or later they may have only a few friends left - usually other kids who are just like them. The power they wanted slips away fast. Other kids move on and leave bullies behind.

Some kids who bully blame others. But every kid has a choice about how to act. Some kids who bully realize that they don't get the respect they want by threatening others. They may have thought that bullying would make them popular, but they soon find out that other kids just think of them as trouble-making losers.

The good news is that kids who are bullies can learn to change their behavior. Teachers, counselors, and parents can help. So can watching kids who treat others fairly and with respect. Bullies can change if they learn to use their power in positive ways. In the end, whether bullies decide to change their ways is up to them. Some bullies turn into great kids. Others never learn.

But no one needs to put up with a bully's behavior. If you or someone you know is bothered by a bully, talk to someone you trust. Everyone has the right to feel safe, and being bullied makes people feel unsafe. Tell someone about it and keep telling until something is done.

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No one likes a bully. Find out how to handle them in this article for kids.

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Planning and preparing for counseling groups within the school environment is a key component to improving the social and emotional well-being of students. It is important to keep open communication between administration and teachers because the goal of every counseling group should be to enhance and improve the school environment for the safety of all (Sink, & Eppler, 2012).  School counselors should survey the staff to identify important situations or concerns they see occurring in the classroom. When staff offer input, it is their way of sharing their voice and expressing their concerns. It also gives them a sense of ownership and a chance to understand the value of school counseling support groups (Sink, & Eppler, 2012).  Teachers, faculty, administration, and students will benefit when school counseling groups are productive and can positively improve the school environment.

Sink, C. A., Edwards, C., & Eppler, C. (2012). School based group counseling. Belmont, CA: Brooks/Cole.

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Efficacy:
Students could be given a pre/post survey before the group starts. It could be designed specifically for the students in the group, or it could be created to survey the entire grade levels of which the group relates to. This would allow the school counselor to identify the growth from the beginning of the group until the end.

School counselors could also look up student data/referrals that are related directly to bullying. They could identify how many reported bullying situations occurred before the group started, during the group, and after the group. If there is a decrease in bullying referrals, that reflects the effectiveness of the program throughout the school environment.

I would also measure the effectiveness of this program with the parents. I may send home a parent survey. I think this would be a great way to involve parents and allow them to pay attention to the change in students’ behavior after the group.

Gathering Feedback:
During this school year, how many times have you been bullied?

How were you bullied? (name calling, being left out, hit by someone, teased)

Where does the bullying situation mostly occur? (Playground, PE, Music, Art, Hallway, Classroom, Lunch room)

When you are bullied, how do you respond? (Tell an adult, tell them to stop, hit them back, say bad things back to them)

What would you do if you saw someone being bullied? (Nothing, report to an adult, ignore it, fight them)

Have you ever bullied someone?

How many days of school have you missed because of being bullied?

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Forming a student group to focus on bully prevention programs involves a lot of planning and considerations for diversity. The school counselor needs to ensure all students are given the opportunity to participate. There needs to be an equal number of boys and girls participating. I believe it should include both genders because all students can be affected by bullying. School counselors also be aware of the racial demographics in the school environment to ensure all students can/are participating in the group.

When boys and girls are mixed within a group, there could be situations that arise that might make them uncomfortable or curious. I believe it is the counselor's job to research or be mindful of how student beliefs or customs could impact participation and group effectiveness. I believe the counselor should know how to educate/inform others of various customs or beliefs IF the topic arises during the group.

Confidentiality needs to be discussed before the group starts. Students need to learn that confidentiality means that there should not be conversations outside of the group about specific situations or individuals who may have been involved in bullying situations.  This will educate the students on the school counselors job to report situations that may be harmful to themselves or others. Students need to understand that they need to respect the privacy of others and not share with classmates what is shared in the group. I also believe that parents need to be informed and give permission for their child to participate. Parents, students, and school counselors need to work together to learn about bullying situations that are occurring in the school and identify ways to stop it.

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The behavioral approach will be as the theoretical orientation to guide prevention of bullying at group sessions. In order to redirect negative behaviors, we will need to identify why a student has the tendency to bully. While identifying those tendencies, we will be able to build the skills to be more empathetic to another person. This approach will also help with anger management and help build self-esteem.

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Group Member Selection, Recruitment, & Identification

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Group Member Selection, Recruitment, & Identification

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The target group is grades K-5.  The reason for this target group is to prevent future bullying as students grow and prepare for middle school and junior high. With group work, students K-5 will learn skills to become a positive friend, good communication skills, and  promote a positive school culture.
Identification of group members would come from 3 sources:
1. Administration referral
2. Teacher referral
3. School announcements such as daily bulletins and posters in hallways.
Recruitment would consist of an interview, appointment with the counselor, or even personal volunteer interest from a student. This recruitment type would screen who actually is willing to participate versus recruiting non active participants.
Screening questions will be:
Do you think you would benefit from a bullying group?
Are you willing to be an active participant by participating in group activities, sharing your thoughts?
Are you willing to change negative behaviors towards others?
Are you willing to become a better student/friend?
If the interest is overwhelming, the group will run another cycle of group counseling.

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The group population is identified as students grade K-5. Depending on the individual, students in this grade range are typically ages 5 to 10 years old. The group members would be either self referred or referred by an administrator or a child's teacher.

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6. Meeting logistics; We will meet in the open music classroom during 3rd period on Tuesdays and Thursdays for 60 minutes
7. communicating to parents, administration and teachers. We will offer questionnaires for all groups to gather an understanding of bullying in general and bullying in schools. We will send home a parents guide for bullying How to Deal With Bullies: A Guide for Parents , we can also develop 20 minute lesson plans for teachers to use in the classroom to compliment our own lesson plans after our group is finished All In Year-long Toolkit - National Bullying Prevention Center (pacer.org) . There will be a continued open line of communication on a weekly basis with parents and teachers to share needed information about what is being taught and what they can do to support those topics as well as offering parents the opportunity to share thoughts and concerns they may have about the program or their child in general.

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5. On average the size of groups for this topic is 10-20 at the 5th grade level with an open group style. We can approach this style through skits and open discussion on problems at our school. Offer a pledge against bullying Take the Pledge (pacerkidsagainstbullying.org) that can open discussions with our students

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4. The broad goals and objectives of our group are to show how behaviors such as fighting, arguing, teasing can go from usual child play to bullying. A goal to have students build a safe and respected school environment. To help kids understand what the meaning of bullying is; an imbalance of power that one person uses over another in order to take advantage of them or force them to do things they do not want to do. We will also work towards educating students on how to take actions towards others through building effective coping skills, personal safety skills, and advocating for self and others.

Mindsets; M1. Belief in development of whole self, including a healthy balance of mental, social/emotional and physical well-being.

M2. Sense of acceptance, respect, support and inclusion for self and others in the school environment.

The direction of the mindsets is to build a school community around preventing bullying and making it acceptable to take a stand against it in our school.

Behaviors; B-LS 1. Critical thinking skills to make informed decisions.

B-SMS 1. Responsibility for self and actions

B- SMS 7. Effective coping skills

B- SS 8. Advocacy skills for self and others and ability to assert self, when necessary.

B- SS 9. Social maturity and behaviors appropriate to the situation and environment.

We take a stand in our school through an investment into helping our students understand their own actions towards others and the impact that creates in all facets of their educational setting. We give them the support they need to advocate for all and sdevelop behaviors that they can use to better their own outcomes in situations that might seem negative or hard to overcome. We build within our students skills to cope with the negative outcomes of bullying and give them a voice to share those skills with others.

Monique Burr Foundation for Children               https://www.mbfpreventioneducation.org

ASCA Student Standards: Mindsets & Behaviors for Student Success - American School Counselor Association (ASCA)

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Bullying is a topic that could be both be problem-solving oriented and preventive. This topic can be divided into two groups with these specific goals. By using data from the needs assessment and or interviews you can have a group of students that are being bullied, as well as a group of students that are being bullies. There is a need for both at this specified age.

Older elementary aged groups are energetic, and enjoyable (Sink,et. al., 2004). Since their social skills are developing, small group work is a great way for them to connect and feel heard in a small safe environment. Students in this age group have shorter attention spans therefore the activities used in groups will need to be engaging, creative and have variety. Having a plan is important for this age, however, so is flexibility.

Sink, C. A., Edwards, C., & Eppler, C. (2012). School based group counseling. Belmont, CA: Brooks/Cole.

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The culture of our proposed school is community driven. The school is housed in a community where everyone rallies around institutions within the community, this includes their schools. There is a high population of students who are 3rd, 4th and 5th generation students of the school. Parents, grandparents, community leaders and those that work and have businesses in the community are highly vested in the school and what happens inside and out. The school climate is no different, there is a sense of family and community within the school.  The population is 524 students from grades K-5. There are 66 staff members, this includes, 28 classroom teachers, 5 SPED teachers, 6 SPED paraprofessionals, 4 instructional specialists, 4 front office professionals, 4 cafeteria workers, 4 custodial staff members, 4 ancillary staff members, 1 nurse, 1 counselor, 1 diagnostician, 1 social worker, 1 speech pathologist and 2 administrators.  The school’s demographics include 42%, 32% hispanic, 12% asian, 12% Black, 2% other. There is also 30% Second language learners, 44% SPED education students, 33% eco. Disadvantaged, and 62% at risk. The campus is not considered a bilingual campus despite the number of second language learners.

The identified group topic is bullying. Research on small groups conducted with adolescents of ethnic origin indicates that counselors must think through developmental issues related to ethnic identity (Sink et al., 2004)

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This picture illustrates a girl being left out from her peers at school. The peers are making fun of the girl for various reasons and the girl who is being bullied looks sad and lonely. I choose this picture because it illustrates how the victim may feel when they are targeted by others. It also illustrates how the individuals doing the bullying are laughing and think it is funny.

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The Bully’s Face: Using Art to Understand Bullying in Gifted Children

This article explains how students who are identified as gifted face bullying situations and experience strong emotions compared to their peers. Teacher and counselors use art as an intervention to help students express their thoughts and feelings they experience when they are bullied.

Groman, J.L. (2019). The Bully’s Face: Using Art to Understand Bullying in Gifted Children. Gifted Child Today, 42(1), 12-18. https://doi.org/10.1177/1076217518804852

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This video clip explains what bullying is by using an example of drawing pictures with peers. It also illustrates how a student tells the teacher about the bullying situation in order for it to stop. I love this illustration of reporting bullying behavior to an adult because that is an important intervention to teach students how to respond and react in bullying situations.

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (Producer). (2023). Yes… That’s Bullying [Video]. www.stopbullying.gov.

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Yes . . . That's Bullying

FADE IN: Art class

Ms. Osborne: Oh, great job class! OK, now it's time for...'Art from Outer Space!'

The kids cheer and grab their paper and crayons. As some start drawing, Nisha is excited.

NISHA: I know! I'm going to draw the planet Saturn!

RAY: Me too!

Nisha and Ray start drawing. Henry smiles and starts drawing too.

HENRY: Me too!

Suddenly, Nisha frowns at Henry in protest.

NISHA: Oh no you're not.

HENRY: Huh?

RAY: YOU have to draw another planet. Only Nisha and I get to draw Saturn.

HENRY: But...I'm allowed to draw whatever I want to.

As Henry starts drawing Saturn, Ray suddenly takes a crayon and makes a big X on Henry's drawing. Henry frowns, upset.

HENRY: Hey!

A shy kid bystander, Zack, notices the tussle. His eyes widen with concern.

ZACK: Uh oh.

Zack notices as Selena tugs the teacher's sleeve and points to what's happening.

SELENA: Ms. Osborne, we have a problem.

MS. OSBORNE: (quietly; aside to Selena) Thanks for letting me know, Selena.

NISHA: Henry, you can't draw ANY planets. 'Cause you're not good at ANYTHING.

Ms. Osborne steps up behind the children.

MS. OSBORNE: Nisha, Ray, that's enough. We don't allow this kind of talk. This isn't the first time you've used hurtful words. This is bullying, and it's not OK.

NISHA AND RAY: Bullying?!

MS. OSBORNE: Yes, you were leaving someone out, ruining his picture, and hurting his feelings.

Getting the message, Nisha and Ray look away, knowing they were in the wrong.

MS. OSBORNE: Let's not forget -- everyone deserves respect.

All of the kids think to themselves, taking this in. Henry smiles thoughtfully, looking relieved. He takes a new piece of paper and draws a new image of Saturn.
NOTE: The transcript for this program may have been compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.

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FADE IN: Art class Ms. Osborne: Oh, great job class! OK, now it's time for...'Art from Outer Space!' The kids cheer and grab their paper and crayons. As some start drawing, Nisha is excited. NISHA: I know! I'm going to draw the planet Saturn! RAY: Me too! Nisha and Ray start drawing.