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October is National Bullying Prevention Month

Bullying takes on many forms, but no matter the form, it is a behavior that scars and hurts many kids. These kids grow up with this emotional baggage and it impacts every decision and action for the rest of their lives.

There is a groundbreaking movement to raise awareness about the devastating impact and often long-term effects that bullying can cause in our nation’s youth. The result was PACER’s creation of National Bullying Prevention Month. Each October, PACER’s National Bullying Prevention Center leads a campaign that unites individuals around the nation – and the world – with the powerful message that bullying should never be a part of childhood.

National Bullying Prevention Month is a wonderful opportunity to prevent bullying by encouraging everyone to act with kindness, acceptance, and inclusion. This year, a worldwide pandemic and a growing movement for racial equity and social justice have highlighted the need to unite communities for a better future. Now more than ever, it is crucial to join together in creating a world that is kinder, more accepting, and more inclusive.

This month-long event is also a time to show solidarity for the one out of every five students who report being bullied each year. Bullying isn’t a childhood rite of passage; it has real implications for a child’s education, health, and safety now, and well into their future

PACER’s National Bullying Prevention Center offers age-appropriate resources to help students, parents, educators, and community members address bullying. Opportunities to get involved include:

Celebrate Unity Day on Wed., October 21, the signature event of National Bullying Prevention Month with a simple call to action to wear and share the color to send a universal message that bullying is never acceptable behavior. Order a free Unity Day poster to show your support.
Find free distance learning resources to use in your virtual classroom to continue engaging students in social emotional learning and bullying prevention
Order or download PACER’s new five-poster series on bullying prevention
Purchase the official “Choose Kindness, Acceptance, & Inclusion” t-shirt or yard sign, available through the end of October