Stick and Stone has a subtle anti-bullying message for children
How to prevent school bullying is even more important these days, in an age of social media. If you thought you had it bad in the school playground, just imagine what life must be like for children who are bullied today, in a world that never turns off. Also see how to help prevent workplace bullying.
So what has this got to do with the natural world? Everything, really. We now live in a culture where children can be bullied for not wearing the right designer trainers, not being the right colour, size, height, shape (some children with gorgeous red hair have even committed suicide due to bullying).
It suggests that we now live in such a corporate mono-culture that anyone perceived as ‘different’ is not allowed to fit in (red hair, black skin, overweight, acne, shy etc). The same happens within workplace bullying.
- Ask your school to install Olweus Bullying Prevention Program. This effective program (invented by a Scandinavian psychologist) brings zero tolerance to bullying in schools. For schools unable to afford the program, you can buy the program.
- ReThink is a free app created by an Indian teen, who was upset at teen suicides, due to bullying. It reads ‘offensive content’ that asks the reader not to send it (93% don’t, preventing suicides).
- Bark App costs £50 to £100 per year (depending on age, with a free trial). Created with youth, child psychologists, law enforcement and digital media – this non-intrusive app monitors texts, emails, YouTube and over 30 social networks, so you can block certain areas of concern. In the US, it has prevent many suicides and over 50 school shootings.
- Man Down is a guide for men on mental health. What makes this book interesting is that the author was recently in the news, after meeting the man (then boy) who had made his life miserable through years of bullying. It turned out the former bully had been following the author on social media, interested in how his life turned out, as he felt so guilty. They did not become friends, but it was still healing.
Why Do Some Children Bully?
Children for the most part are kind, so it begs the question as to why some children bully? We’ve all likely heard that most bullies have their own problems at home, but it’s not always the case. And bullying has likely been going on for hundreds of years, not just today. The research shows that bullies are from all backgrounds, and tend to go for children that are shy or have few close friends or who are ‘different’ (race, red hair, special educational needs etc).
Evidence suggests that most child bullies are doing so, due to seeking attention. This could be due to lack of attention at home or having been bullied themselves, they feed the need to emulate others. It’s more to do with children who don’t have the empathy of more sensitive children, and feel the need to bully, to make themselves feel more empowered.
A more modern take on why bullies do what they do, is to do with envy. Most bullies subconsciously want to be kind and empathic, and if they are not, they take out their ‘revenge’ on those that have the traits they secretly yearn for. They also go for those they think won’t be empowered themselves (most bullies don’t go for someone who is a karate black belt or has lots of friends and people to back them up).
How Lizzie Overcame Cyber Bullying
Lizzie Valesquez grew up in a religious family, born with a rare condition that stops her from gaining weight, and affects her bone structure (she is also blind in one eye). One day as a young teen while surfing online, she found someone calling her ‘the ugliest girl in the world’. Devastated, she was comforted by her family and her Roman Catholic faith.
But rather than give in, she gave a TED talk (funny and inspirational) that went viral. She is now the writer of best-selling books on kindness and the subject of a documentary film ‘I Am Lizzie’.
Am I going to let the people who called me a monster define me? No, I’m gonna let my goals and my success and my accomplishments be the things that define me. Lizzie Velasquez
