The most consistent piece of advice that experts give kids when they’ve experienced bullying behavior is tell a trusted adult. Actually, it’s our biggest piece of hope in this complicated issue that kids will survive and thrive if they get…
I feel so much pain for what he must have been feeling and had no one to help him through. I’d have fought the world to the death had I known…why didn’t he come to me? Why couldn’t I see…
There’s an upside and a downside to our focus on bullying prevention. The upside, of course, is that we’re shedding light on the pervasive culture of mean that is destroying the confidence of so many children and teens. The…
I was just in Huntsville, Alabama. School started there on Monday. It always surprises me because living on the east coast, Labor Day weekend is cherished as the last weekend of freedom. August seems too unnatural to put on shoes…
It’s a new school year and for those of you who are reading this and didn’t have such a great year last year, I hope things are much better this year. Things can change. Sometimes the mix of the students…
Last week, I spoke to a local Rotary Club (by the way, they do great work for the community) and during the question and answer session, one member asked me what my best piece of advice was for a parent…
Have you heard of The Fat Boy Chronicles? The book, co-written by authors Michael Buchanan and Diane Lang, both former award-winning teachers, is based on a true story of a bullied obese ninth grader. It doesn’t matter how old you…
Yesterday I was walking past two boys playing basketball. My guess is that they were about 12 years old and they were having a great time. Laughing and joking around. One of the kids had to leave and as he…
Is love alive? For kids who are made to feel worthless by peers, siblings or sadly from some adults in their lives, they may not think so. This message is simple. We all have what it takes — two ears,…
Elizabeth Lasky , a leader in social work, specializing in bullying, cyberbullying and relationship issues, spoke at a conference in NYC recently. I was struck by her grasp of the bullying issue and her common sense approach. She works with…