This year marks the 10th anniversary of National Bullying Prevention Month and the theme is “The End of Bullying Begins with Me!” Sadly, 1 out of 4 children report being bullied during the school year. At Silver Hill, we believe that you can help prevent bullying by teaching children empathy, compassion and how to celebrate differences very early in life.

1 in 4 people use social media worldwide. Most people login to social media sites, like Facebook and Twitter, multiple times a day. For some, it’s the first thing they see when they open their eyes in the morning and the last thing they see before bed. Although it seems harmless to scroll through your Facebook newsfeed to see what’s going on with your friends, it does come at a price. 

October is National Bullying Prevention Month, and with good reason. Being bullied is linked to many mental illnesses including depression, anxiety, substance abuse and even suicide. Cardinal signs of school bullying include school avoidance, academic difficulties, changes in sleep patterns and health problems. The impact can last a lifetime.

Your child is begging to come home from camp. Maybe you suspect bullying. What should you do? Dr. Aaron Krasner, Adolescent Transitional Living Program Service Chief, gives parents a few tips. 

October is National Bullying Prevention Month and it’s more important than ever to raise awareness of the horrible epidemic of bullying and cyberbullying. Although not every person shows signs of being bullied, many do. If any of the signs below are observed in your children, don’t ignore them.

According to Stopbullying.gov, bullying is unwanted, aggressive behavior among school-aged children that involves a real or perceived power imbalance.  More than just physical abuse, it also includes making threats, spreading rumors or excluding someone from a group on purpose.  Bullying seems to be reaching epidemic proportions.

As a parent, we must teach our children to navigate their lives safely and help them balance school, recreation, family, and friends. Yet even with all the new electronic distractions, many parenting principles — such as teaching your kids how to behave towards others — not only have not changed, but actually transcend the newest gadgets or fads. If you find your child has a personality characteristic that needs tweaking then, yep, it is your responsibility to do so.