A Culture of Bullying: Digging a Little Deeper

We have spent quite a bit of time this month researching and blogging about bullying. We have come to the conclusion that as a culture if we all dig a little deeper into our own lives, we could lessen the problem of bullying greatly.
Children live what they are taught.  What is it about our culture that [...]

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Physical Effects of Bullying

When we’re conducting staff development programs or parent programs at schools, one point that we stress is:

Bullying is not a right of passage, and should not be blown off as a “boys will be boys” or “kids will be kids” situation.  Bullying is not ok, and chronic bullying can have serious short-term and long-term physical and [...]

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Targets of Bullying

In our Native culture, we teach our children that diversity is to be honored and revered.  Just as there are no two stars exactly alike in the universe, there are no two children exactly alike on Earth.  It is so important to honor and respect each others’ differences.
We have found in our public and private elementary, [...]

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Bullying and Native American Children on Reservations

Several times a year we return to Robert’s homeland in Mt. Pleasant, Michigan.  Besides Mom, we still have many aunts, uncles, and cousins living on the rez.  We also travel to many other nations throughout Indian Country, and we would be remise to talk about bullying without taking the time to recognize the special issues faced by Native [...]

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How to Talk to a Child who is Being a Bully

When confronted with evidence of being a bully, your child or student may respond “I wasn’t being a bully, we were having a fight.”  When faced with this justification, here are some questions you may ask your child to elicit a discussion of what it means to be a bully.  We believe that in this [...]

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Things Not to Say if Your Child is Being Bullied

If your child is being bullied, your first instinct may be to make light of it, in order to help your child or student feel better.  Do not do this.  The most important thing you can do is listen, until you have the whole story – or as much of the story as you are going to get.  [...]

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Steps for Taking Care of Bullying

Last night we did a parent program for Holy Trinity Catholic School in Lenexa, Kansas. The school asked us ahead of time to specifically focus on bullying. Throughout the evening we felt the heartfelt concern of the gathered parents, teachers, and community. From a personal standpoint, our children are grown, but as grandparents of seven, how [...]

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A Quick Response Plan to Bullying

Listen to your child.
Offer your help.
Validate your child by acknowledging their feelings.
Embrace your child with your help, and with your arms.
Gakina-awiiya (We Are All Related),
Chief Robert and Terri Lynn TallTree
www.thetalltrees.com
“Teach us love, compassion and honor…that we may heal the Earth, and heal each other.”   – Ojibwe prayer

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Gender Differences in Bullying

 In the 25 years we have been working with schools across the country, we have noticed some key gender differences in bullying behavior.  A couple of weeks ago we watched the movie “Mean Girls”, about a group of high school girls bullying another girl who doesn’t fit in, so they verbally torment her, and generally [...]

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5 Powerful Tips to Stop Bullying

We’re gearing up to start our yearly tour of schools around the country. One common issue that schools regularly ask us to address is bullying, and we routinely give teachers, parents, and children powerful tips to stop bullying.
According to the National Violence Prevention Resource Center (www.safeyouth.org) over 30% of all students are affected by bullying, either as the [...]

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