IMK in Action – How Kids Can Stand Up To Bullying

What’s The Big Deal?

In school or at the park, you may have seen or experienced bullying. Bullying is hurting someone either by words or actions.

Some feel that bullying is a part of normal growing up. It isn’t! There will always be problems between kids. But bullying is done on purpose and is not right. We need to be aware of the bullying and stand up against it!

Did You Know?

• One out of every four students report they have been bullied during the school year!
• Students who experience bullying have trouble sleeping, headaches, and stomach-aches.
• 58% of kids admit someone has said mean or hurtful things to them online.
• 90% of teens who report being cyber-bullied have also been bullied offline.
• One out of five kids admits to being a bully, or doing some “bullying”.
• 58% of kids have not told their parents or an adult about something mean or hurtful that happened to them online.

What Can You Do?

Bullying is a big problem! But there are ways you can help! Either by yourself or by joining others trying to put an end to bullying!

Here are some ways you can take action:

Do something small:

• When you see bullying, do something! Stand up for kids in your school who are victims of bullying and cyber-bullying and offer to help.
• Treat everyone with respect. Stop and think before you say or do something that could hurt someone.
• Be kind to the kid being bullied. Show that you care by trying to include them. Sit with them at lunch or on the bus, talk to them at school, or invite them to do something. Just hanging out with them will help them know they aren’t alone.
• Sign a petition! Add your name to the digital “The End of Bullying Begins With Me” petition.

Do something big:

• Talk to your principal or teacher about becoming a leader in preventing bullying at your school. Be on a school safety committee. Create anti-bullying posters for your school. Be a role model for other kids.
• If your school doesn’t have an anti-bullying program, then ask for one! Register your school as a Champion Against Bullying!
• Get your school to start a peer mentoring club! You can bring your entire school together and learn ways to stop bullying.
• Write a letter to your local newspaper or tweet about your views to stop bullying!

Join a cause:

• Get involved and make a promise to Stomp Out Bullying!
• Participate in National Bullying Prevention Month, which is the month of October. People around the world educate and raise awareness of bullying prevention.
• Walk, Run, or Hike for a cause! There are many events around the world that raise awareness for bullying prevention!

Get Inspired!

Know that you can make a difference! Across the world, kids like you raise awareness of how to prevent bullying in their schools – and you can too! Here are some stories to inspire you to take action:

• A 3^rd grader decided to end loneliness on the playground by creating the Buddy Bench.
• Say positive things about those around you. A high school quarterback created a twitter account to uplift other students.
• A girl with Asperger’s explains why it’s important to understand the disability which makes it difficult to make friends.
• Click here to find more IMK stories about bullying!

Additional Resources:

Find out more information on bullying problems around the world! There are many stories about bullies and what we can do about it. Here are a few:

• The government takes bullying very serious and wants to put an end to it!
• At the Ripple Kindness Project, they inspire people to make changes in their lives to show that being kind makes you feel good.
• Kindness Crossing Borders is an app that raises awareness and educates about bullying. No matter where you live, your age, or gender – we can put a stop to bullying!

We hope this was useful! If so, please tell your friends and family and together we can make a difference and end bullying!