Cool Mom Picks - The best online bullying resources that we hope you never need

Monday 23 July

The best online bullying resources that we hope you never need

With so many of us with school-aged kids, we were probably surprised as you might be to know that according to the National Crime Prevention Council, about 160,000 kids won't go to school each day for fear of being bullied, which to us is about 160,000 too many.

We're happy to be working with our sponsor Chase again, a supporter of The Bully Project, which you might know is an important independent film that highlights kids and families across the USA through the school year who dealing with bullying -- online, on their phones, on the bus, at home, and on the streets of their towns. Their website, along with the helpful online resources for bullying we've rounded up, are here to help us all be prepared parents when our kids need us most. -Kristen

1. StopBullying.Gov + GirlsHealth.Gov

These helpful website provides information on both bullying and cyberbullying for parents. You'll find a series of bullying webisodes on StopBullying.Gov that I like a lot. They address myriad bullying issues in a way that kids, even young ones, can understand. And you'll want to be sure and bookmark the Bullying page at GirlsHealth.gov, which features an extensive collection of online articles, publications, and websites related to the topic.

2. Pacer.org National Bullying Prevention Center

If you feel compelled to take action against bullying, you'll find so many helpful ways to spread awareness at Pacer.org's National Bullying Prevention Center website. I love the idea of their Kids Against Bullying Puppet Show, which allows schools to purchase puppets and scripts that help teach kids about bullying prevention. If you happen to live in the Minneapolis/St. Paul area, you can even ask them for a school visit.

3. Welcoming Schools

As a project of the Human Rights Campaign Foundation, Welcoming Schools encourages schools to take a proactive approach to ending bullying, by connecting with a consultant to help plan and implement specific programs and events for families. Focusing on family diversity, their "What Do You Know" film is an excellent starting point for discussion with your own kids about gender and familial differences.

4. PBS Kids Website

For those of you with older kids, we really like It's My Life on PBSKids.org, a simple, interactive site for tweens and teens that engages kids about all sorts of issues, including Bullying. Your kids can read through various bullying related topics even play a "Beat the Bully" game; don't worry, it's a race. This is an excellent way to introduce your kids to the topic so you can discuss it further without alarming them.

5. It Gets Better Project + Trevor Project

If you know someone who is being bullied, then you should be aware of The Trevor Project provides suicide prevention services and crisis intervention for LGBTQ youth through their 24/7 phone line and online chat. Parents can get information on suicide warning signs as well as what you can do if a tween or teen you know if feeling suicidal.

And while most of us are by now aware of the remarkably compelling and viral It Gets Better Project, you might not know that you (or your teen) can actually upload your own video to the site and share your story. Just watching a few of the shared videos from their own peers might just be the best way to get the message across to a teen at all.

This post is sponsored by Chase -- a strong supporter of the Bully Project, a program committed to ending bullying and ultimately transforming society. Learn more here.

Find More: Causes and General Do-Gooding

2 Comments

Leave a comment | Comment Policy

Adam Mitchell | July 24, 2012 11:07 AM | Reply

Hi there, just read your post. The article shows some great sites for starters. I am a Youth Speaker and work with at risk kids and their parents daily so appreciate it whenever I see content like this available for parents looking for help.

I'd also like to offer some resources that I use that are incredible services for your readers. All of course are non-profit.

Suicide Prevention
Suicide.org
If you're concerned someone you know, is suicidal please go to this page right now. They can help.

State Law & Initiatives
BullyPolice.org
A Watch-dog Organization - Advocating for Bullied Children & Reporting on State Anti Bullying Laws. These folks are tops. Download law templates to assist your local representative, school super and PTOs. Lots of resources here to help people who want cruelty free schools.

Their Anti-Bullying policy is a 'must have'. It's an ideal resource to present to your school board or superintendent. Do not settle for a district that simply has a "Code of conduct" of some sort. There needs to be an accountability measure in place. Demand it.

Special Needs
Ability Path.org
Support for parents of children with special needs. This group segment has the highest rate of victimization, very sad. No site that speaks about bully prevention should be without links to resources for parents of children with special needs who are being bullied.

All my best, Adam Mitchell
TheKidsAreUnited.com

Adam Mitchell | July 24, 2012 11:44 AM | Reply

I'd also like to offer some resources that I use that are incredible services for your readers. All of course are non-profit.

Suicide Prevention
Suicide.org
If you're concerned someone you know, is suicidal please go to this page right now. They can help.

All my best, Adam Mitchell
TheKidsAreUnited.com

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