Get Your STOMP Out Bullying Wristband Here

Get Your Blue Shirts For BLUE SHIRT DAY Here

View JoJo's PSA Video Here

National Bullying Prevention Awareness Week
National Bullying Prevention Awareness Week is October 4th - 10th and during this week Love Our Children USA is asking kids and teens and their schools and communities to join forces to increase awareness and STOMP Out Bullying.

Work with Love Our Children in various ways. Hold Rallys at school and in your communities, hold a day of silence at school to STOMP Out Bullying, ask your school to put up a white flag during October 4th - 10th as a symbol to STOMP Out Bullying. Play our public service announcements by Demi Lovato and JoJo ... and for kids up to 6 years of age -- the OogieLoves public service announcement can be played.Start a bullying prevention education club at school and introduce peer mentoring. Love Our Children USA will provide you with the necessary materials to start this. And observe national BLUE SHIRT DAY.

National BLUE SHIRT DAY
To signify the importance of National Bullying Prevention Awareness Week, on Monday, October 5th, we are asking kids, teens and adults across the nation to participate in BLUE SHIRT DAY by wearing a blue shirt to STOMP Out Bullying.

Love Our Children USA created this day and chose the color blue because in many diverse cultures blue brings peace.The color conveys importance and confidence.

On Monday, October 5th, Americans across the country will wear blue shirts as they make their way to school or to the office in support of this new annual grassroots national campaign to STOMP Out Bullying.

You can ORDER Blue Shirts from Love Our Children USA or wear your own. The most important thing is to wear a BLUE SHIRT on OCTOBER 5th to school, to work, everywhere --- to show support of bullying and cyberbullying prevention and to STOMP Out Bullying!

Please join this grassroots effort. Someone you know could be bullied. Someone you know might be a bully.

Spread the word – in schools, communities, at work, on Facebook, MySpace and Twitter – tell everyone you know -- friends, family, neighbors, colleagues -- to wear a BLUE Shirt on Monday, October 5th. Let’s put an end to bullying and STOMP it out across the nation! Let's keep America's kids and teens safe at school and in their communities.

The Issue of Bullying

Bullying is a problem that affects millions of students of all races and classes. 1 out of 4 kids is bullied and 42% of kids have been bullied while online. Child and teen Bullying and Cyberbullying are at an all-time high. Some kids are so tormented that suicide has become an alternative for them. It has everyone worried. Not just the kids on its receiving end, but the parents, teachers and others who may not understand how extreme bullying can get. Love Our Children USA is working aggressively to prevent these issues and to help the kids and teens affected by it.

Some feel that bullying is a normal right of passage in growing up. It isn’t!! There will always be conflicts between kids, but bullying is intentional cruelty, harassment, and emotional, physical and sometimes sexual abuse. This behavior can set the tone for a lifetime of intentional cruelty or worse. And the consequences to the victim can seriously affect them for the rest of their lives.

What Is Bullying?

Bullying is when someone hurts or scares another person repeatedly and is never appropriate. The innocent one being bullied feels alone, depressed and scared and feels they have nowhere to turn.

- Spreading bad rumors about someone

- Being mean and teasing someone

- Punching, shoving and hurt someone physically

- Not including someone is a group

- Getting certain kids or teens to "gang up" on others

Bullying also can happen on-line or electronically. Cyberbullying is when kids or teens bully each other using the Internet, mobile phones or other cyber technology. This can include:

- Sending mean text, e-mail, or instant messages;

- Posting nasty pictures or messages about others in blogs or on Web sites;

- Using someone else's user name to spread rumors or lies about someone.

- Stealing someone's password and spreading rumors about someone else making it seem like   that person is the Cyberbully.


Forms of Bullying

It's not always easy to determine bullying behavior. How do you know if you're the victim of good-natured ribbing or bullying? Hostility and aggression directed towards a victim who is physically or emotionally weaker than the bully are more obvious signs of bullying. This behavior causes pain and distress for the victim. Bullying comes In various forms:

Physical bullying is the most obvious form of intimidation and can consist of kicking, hitting, biting, pinching, hair pulling, and making threats. A bully may threaten to punch you if you don't give up your money, your lunch, etc.

Verbal bullying often accompanies physical behavior. This can include name calling, spreading rumors, and persistent teasing.

Emotional intimidation is closely related to these two types of bullying. A bully may deliberately exclude you from a group activity such as a party or school outing.

Racist bullying can take many forms: making racial slurs, spray painting graffiti, mocking the victim's cultural customs, and making offensive gestures.

Sexual bullying is unwanted physical contact or abusive comments.

Cyberbullying is one or a group of kids or teens using electronic means via computers and mobile phones (emails, Web sites, chat rooms and texting) to torment, threaten, harass, humiliate, embarrass or target another kid or teen.


Why Do Kids Bully?

Bullies don't need a reason to hurt others. When asked, some replied:

- Because it makes me feel, stronger, smarter, or better than the person I'm bullying

- Because I'm bullied at home

- Because it's what you do if you want to hang out with the right crowd

- Because I see others doing it

- Because it's one of the best ways to keep others from bullying me

Whatever the reason, bullying is not cool. It's mean!

Whether we've done it ourselves, or we know others who are doing it ... it is important for us to understand that bullying is serious and has harmful effects on the lives of our youth.

Maybe it's not happening to you ... but it could. Join Love Our Children USA and help to STOMP Out Bullying.


Are You A Bully?

- You've spread nasty rumors about someone verbally, in a note or through email or texting
- You've been mean and teased someone, called them names, or made fun of the way they look,   dress, act or talk
- You've hurt someone you don't like
- You've pushed, shoved or punched someone repeatedly—just because
- You and your friends exclude others from your group
- You're part of a group who is mean to others and who've done these things just to be popular
-  If you're guilty of any of these very mean behaviors, you are a bully. But you don't have to be.

Learn how to treat others with kindness, compassion and respect. You can learn how to be COOL in a good way!

Effects of Bullying

Some people think bullying is "just a fact of life" or "a right of passage" and they don't take it seriously... until someone they know is hurt by bullying.

- 1 out of 4 kids is bullied and 42% of kids have been bullied while online. Child and teen Bullying   and Cyberbullying are at an all-time high.

- Some kids are so tormented that suicide has become an alternative for them.

- It can mess up a kid's future. Bullies are more likely to skip school, drop out of school, smoke,   drink alcohol, get into fights and be arrested at some point in their life. 60% of boys who were   bullies in middle school had at least one criminal conviction by the age of 24.

- As many as 160,000 students may stay home on any given day because they're afraid of their   bullies and/or they just can't take the pain anymore


Have You Witnessed Bullying?

If you see others being bullied, you can help stop it. Help to STOMP Out Bullying and get involved! It might be easier to just watch or ignore bullying, but every one of us needs to feel safe! How would you feel if you were being bullied? How do you think the person you are watching who is being bullied feels?

You Can STOMP Out Bullying!

Report Bullying

Don't be afraid to tell an adult. Telling isn't tattling! You are helping someone.

Who should you tell? You could tell your parents, teacher, school counselor, school nurse, coach or any adult you trust. Be sure to tell exactly what happened ... who was bullied, who the bully was, where and when it happened. Even if you suspect a kid is being bullied, it's a good idea to report that, too. Most adults really do care about bullying and will be glad that you told them about it.

If you tell an adult and you don't think they are doing anything about the bullying or if the situation isn't improving, tell another adult. Keep telling adults until someone does something to help.

Be A Friend To Someone Who Is Being Bullied

When someone is down they need a friend. Be there for the person who is being bullied. Be a buddy on school grounds, get together after school, include them in activities, Walk home with them, sit with them on the bus. Being an understanding and supportive friend means so much. Show a kid who is being bullied that you care about them.

Stand Up To The Bully

If you feel safe and comfortable, tell the bully that what they are doing is mean and wrong. It's not cool and they should stop. Keep it simple. Do not bully them back. If you are not comfortable standing up to the bully, tell an adult.

Join Love Our Children USA, Demi Lovato, JoJo, the OogieLoves and others spreading the word to STOMP Out Bullying.


Learn Who The Bullies Are At Your School

- When and where does bullying happen in school?

- Where do you see kids bullying other kids?

- When and where does it happen in out-of-school places?

- Who is involved - kids who bully, their followers, kids who are bullied, and possible defenders?

- Are there adults around who can help?

Has your school taken a NO TOLERANCE stand when it comes to bullying?
Does your school enforce a No Bullying policy?

If YES, talk with your teachers, counselors and principal and start a group where you and other students can get involved. Start a student advisory group that can meet during student "club" or "activity" times. Share information from this web site with students and adults at your school.

If the answer is NO, talk with a teacher, school counselor, or your principal about starting a program at your school. Show them Love Our Children USA's web site. Invite Love Our Children USA to speak at your school.

You can STOMP Out Bullying in your community too!

Kids Can Learn More About Bullying Below:

Stop Bullying
Bullying At School
Bullying: What Have I Ever Done To You
Cyberbullying
Cell Phone and Text Messaging Safety
Online Safety For Kids and Teens
Miss Teen New Jersey International 2007 Stand Against Bullies

Parents Can Learn More About Bullying Below:

Bullying And Guns At School
Bullying Prevention Bill Of Rights For Parents and Students
Bullying Prevention Laws
Notice of Harrassment- What Parents Can Do To Stop Bullying
Parents Helping to Stop Bullying and School Violence
Time For School ... Time For Bullying Prevention
Cyberbullying

STOMP Out Bullying is an initiative of Love Our Children USA, the national nonprofit leader that honors, respects and protects children. Its mission is to break the cycle of violence against children. Since 1999, it has paved the way in prevention and has become the'Go-To' prevention organization for all forms of violence and neglect against children in the U.S.