Taking Action to Prevent Bullying in Your Community
Did you know that 1 of every 5 students report being bullied, and less than 50% report the bullying incident to others (National Center for Educational Statistics, 2019)? Bullying is unwanted, aggressive behavior that is repetitive and involves a power imbalance.
There are different types of bullying, including:
- Verbal Bullying – saying or writing mean things, like teasing, name-calling, or threatening to hurt someone
- Social Bullying – doing something to hurt another person’s relationships with others, like leaving someone out of the activity, spreading rumors, or embarrassing someone in public
- Physical Bullying – doing something to hurt a person’s body or their personal property, including hitting, spitting, or breaking another person’s things
Feeling supported by others is an important preventive factor against bullying. If a child tells you that they were bullied, remember to:
- Listen carefully, acknowledge your understanding of the child’s perspective, and check if the bullying stopped
- Remind the child to continue speaking up when they experience or witness bullying
- Act to intervene and work with others to prevent bullying in your community in the future
It is important to teach kids to speak up when they experience or witness bullying. We can also teach children to stand up to bullies by reminding them to STOP, WALK, and ASK FOR HELP when they experience or witness bullying in their community.
Sesame Street in Communities offers excellent resources to help families and educators teach kids about becoming an “upstander” that speaks up against bullying:
- Recognizing Bullying: https://sesamestreetincommunities.org/activities/recognizing-bullying/
- Bully-Busting: https://sesamestreetincommunities.org/activities/bully-busting/
- When Mean Behavior Becomes Bullying: https://sesamestreetincommunities.org/activities/mean-behavior-becomes-bullying/
- Reporting Bullying: https://sesamestreetincommunities.org/activities/reporting-bullying/
- Becoming an “Upstander”: https://sesamestreetincommunities.org/activities/becoming-an-upstander/
Speaking up is the first step in stopping bullying. We are committed to standing up to bullying and creating a world where people with Down syndrome are accepted and embraced by their communities. We need to come together to build a society that is accepting, generous and kind. To learn more about what you can do to create change in your community, check out these resources:
GiGi’s Playhouse Chicago is committed to providing a safe space for children and families to grow and learn together. Visit or contact us with questions or for additional support.
Address: 3948 N. Lincoln, Chicago, IL 60613
Phone: (773) 583-PLAY (7529)
Email: chicago@gigisplayhouse.org
Download the “Preventing Bulling in Your Community” pamphlet by clicking the image below.
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