Eye Contact
Can we discuss one of the most insidious of all bullying tactics? Not giving eye contact. Yep. If you’ve ever been on the receiving end, you know what I mean. It’s a message that you’re not worthy. And when done as a group, watch out. You can end up in the fetal position. It’s a […]
Jelly Bean Wisdom
My son, Peter, coaches the “mighty” Jelly Beans, an adorable assortment of 4-year old boys and girls who are learning a team sport for the first time. It dawned on me as I watched them enthusiastically make goals for the opposing team (The Peanuts) that this was much more than learning a sport. It was […]
This Mom Should Feel Proud
I was talking to a young girl, now in 8th grade, about how hard the transition was for her when she moved schools two years ago. It was tough. The girls were not as inclusive as they should have been and had a tendency to gossip and the boys in her class were rough and […]
Bully in the Making
Today a friend of mine is in the odd position of confronting a 9 year-old bully in the making. Yikes. It’s a tricky situation. She’s related (by marriage). The only positive for her is that she’s not blood. My friend has caught her in the act of being really mean repeatedly. She goes out of […]
Not So Easy for Young Bystanders
Many bullying experts believe that empowering bystanders to step in is the key to improving bullying situations. This makes great sense but it’s still very complicated and not a “one size fits all” or “one size fits all ages” answer. Just as the “gang mentality” of bullies works for them, enlisting the support of all […]
Bullying: Bad For Your Health??
In June, The American Academy of Pediatrics officially named bullying a health risk. Do you agree that bullying should be considered a health risk? Why or why not? Join the national conversation. Click “Bullying: Bad For Your Health?” under Blog Archive to the right. Scroll down to Post a Comment and tell us what you […]
Share Your Brilliant Ideas to Help Parents with Internet Safety
It’s the “New Neighborhood Watch.” In opening remarks at a recent UN symposium on Cyber Hate, Secretary General Ban Ki-moon said, “The Internet has brought tremendous good but there are a few dark alleys.” Many smart people are out there trying to help us navigate the “dark alleys,” but no doubt the best advice comes […]
Lessons From Ryan’s Story…Step In
At age 13, Ryan Halligan had enough of bullying and took his own life. His parents did everything they could to blunt the effects of bullying on their kind, sensitive son but he was surrounded. It happened in school and it happened online. According to a recent study led by “Harvard University’s Berkman Center for […]
Suspected “Bullicide”
Embedded video from CNN Video
What’s Your Advice?
Check out this Dear Deidre column. A sixteen year-old boy writes in to ask the advice columnist for The Sun (a British paper), if he should stand up for his friend who is being badly bullied. Her advice, in a nutshell, is to not get too involved and encourage the boy to go to an […]
