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is everyone’s businessProtecting our childrenProtecting our children

The Franklin Times Thursday, may 30, 2019 SECTION B

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Education Should Start Sooner Than You ThinkInternet Safety tIpS pLayGrOUnD Safety tIpS

• NEVER give out personal information such as your name, home address, school name or telephone number in a chat room or on bulletin boards. Also, never send a picture of yourself to someone you chat with on the computer without your parent’s permission.

• NEVER write to someone who has made you feel uncomfortable or scared.• DO NOT meet someone or have them visit you without the permission of your parents.• TELL your parents right away if you read anything on the internet that makes you feel uncomfortable.• REMEMBER that people online may not be who they say they are. Someone who says that “she” is a “12-year-old girl” could really be an older man.• PARENTS: Make sure to monitor your child’s social media activity.

• Check playgrounds where your children play. Look for age-appropriate equipment and hazards, such as rusted or broken equipment and dangerous surfaces. Report any hazards to the school or appropriate local office.• Avoid playgrounds with non-impact absorbing surfaces, such as asphalt, concrete, grass, dirt or gravel.• Dress appropriately for the playground. Remove necklaces, purses, scarves or clothing with drawstrings that can get caught on equipment and pose a strangulation hazard. Even helmets can be dangerous on a playground, so save those for bikes.• Teach children that pushing, shoving or crowding while on the playground can be dangerous.• Ensure that children use age-appropriate playground equipment.Courtesy: safekids.org

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By Dr. Rhonda SchuhlerSuperintendentFranklin County Schools

How do we create an excellent envi-ronment for learning?

This question drives our work each and every day as a school system.

Franklin County Schools has a “Blue-print for Success” — a basic one-page guiding document that identifies dis-trict goals and benchmarks for success in reaching them.

The areas of career and college readi-ness, literacy, mathematics, and 21st Century skills have all been identified as priorities in order to effectively prepare students for the world beyond our classroom doors.

To achieve this success, it is imperative that we create an environment for learning that is safe, orderly, and caring. If they don’t feel safe and cared for, stu-dents cannot learn at high levels.

In an era of social media and a 24-hour news cycle, we seem to be regularly bombarded with examples of bullying, harassment, and school violence. At its worst, these examples have included school shootings and the tragic loss of life.

As superintendent and a parent, I am keenly aware of the inherent challenges to creating school learning environments that prepare students for the world out-side of the classroom while also working to insulate them from outside negative influences.

As a district, we are committed to successfully addressing these challenges, and we have identified several key ways to accomplish this important work:

Partnership withLaw Enforcement

We are fortunate to have an outstanding working relationship with the Franklin County law enforcement community. Our Sheriff’s Department and municipali-ties have open lines of communication with district leadership, and we regularly evaluate the ways we can build upon school safety and security efforts.

We have a full-time School Resource Officer (SRO) presence at each of our 16 schools, with the exception of our Early College High School, which has part-time SRO support.

These SROs work closely with school-level leader-

ship to enhance school safety efforts, provide a consistent law enforcement presence, and forge relationships with students and staff in support of learn-ing.

Safety MeasuresEach of our schools has a system

for controlling entry into our facilities. With our buzz-in system, visitors must identify themselves and the purpose for their visit prior to building entry.

Our schools have crisis plans in place for emergency management, and these plans are regularly updated to reflect the latest in school safety research.

Individual schools also practice drills for a variety of emergency situations in order to be well-prepared to respond in the event of a true crisis.

Effective SchoolDiscipline

As a district, we work closely with our principals on ensuring that discipline is handled promptly so the classroom environment remains a safe place.

This protocol requires addressing situations as they arise using our student code of conduct as a guide.

In order to prevent disruptions and behaviors that may lead to disciplinary measures, staff mem-bers receive continuing professional development. Establishing strong classroom management, provid-ing behavioral support and intervention, and build-ing relationships to understand student needs are addressed so staff can respond quickly and accord-ingly.

With the increased use of digital tools, such as chromebooks, school officials are also charged with monitoring activity on school-system devices in order to prevent students from visiting inappropriate sites or communicating in ways that may violate the stu-dent code of conduct.

GoGuardian is a tool that is used on district devices as a way to limit student access to certain sites, as well as to monitor and receive alerts if students attempt to explore sites and content that is off limits.

Two-WayCommunication

Franklin County Schools makes it a priority to keep

our families informed. This means providing a level of transparency and timely information in the event of an emergency. SchoolMessenger is utilized to pro-vide parents—who have subscribed—with access to school and district information and updates via email, text, and phone message.

We also recognize that students may have concerns that need to be reported.

Our “if you see something, say something” approach provides us with valuable information that can be used to intervene and prevent acts of bullying, harassment, and school violence.

What Can Parents Do to Support School Safety Efforts?

--Stay Informed--Sign up for SchoolMessenger for timely commu-

nication via email, text and phone--Reach out to classroom teachers and administra-

tors with concerns as they arise regarding safety and discipline

--Make the school aware of any threats or inap-propriate online activity outside of school that could negatively impact the school environment

--Students can also utilize the online form on our website to make an anonymous report of bullying or harassment

--Keep Lines of Communication Open with Your Child

--Ask your child about their day--Monitor academic progress through Powerschool--Limit and monitor student access to social media--Reach Out for Assistance--Tap into support systems at school (principal,

school counselor, social worker)--Connect with community resources through

your schoolSafety Is ATeam Effort

It is critical for us to work together and communi-cate effectively in order to keep our students safe and our classrooms as nurturing environments for effec-tive learning.

Students need to feel secure, cared-for, and com-fortable reaching out with any concerns they may have to the adults in their lives.

I am fully dedicated to continuing our work in this area to help foster a shared mindset and daily aware-ness of safety in our schools.

Dr. Rhonda Schuhler

County schools have a ‘Blueprint for Success’The goal is preparing students beyond the classroom

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The internet is a valu-able tool that can benefit kids in the classroom and beyond. But as par-ents know, the internet also can be a danger to youngsters.

As hard as parents may try to govern their children’s internet us-age, kids’ curiosity often compels them to go on-line when parents aren’t keeping watch. Parental controls are a great way to protect youngsters while they’re online. Setting up such controls may vary depending on the type of devices kids use, and the fol-lowing guide can help parents whose children use popular Android, Amazon Fire and iOS devices.

How to set up parental controls on children’s tabletAndroid

The parental controls on Android devices al-low moms and dads to restrict access to various types of content, includ-ing television shows and movies, games and apps. The Family Link app, which can be downloaded through the Google Play store, enables parents to track their kid’s online usage and even set up limits on how much time they can spend online each day, as well as monitor the location of the de-vice and when it is on. When using the Family Link app, parents will need to create a separate Google account for their children.

Amazon FireAmazon Fire is an-

other popular, user-friendly tablet that many children use. Each Fire device comes with FreeTime built-in. FreeTime bans adver-tisements and restricts purchases so kids can-not spend mom and dad’s money without permission. In addition, FreeTime allows par-ents to restrict content, ensuring kids will only be able to see content approved by their par-ents. Adults also can set up time restrictions to limit the amount of time their kids spend online, and they can even pre-vent access to certain ac-tivities, including video games.

iOSThe iOS is an operating

system for mobile de-vices manufactured by Apple. The Screen Time function on iOS devices allows parents to restrict the use of and down-loading of certain apps, including those built-in on iOS devices. Parents can specify which web-sites their children are allowed to visit, pre-venting them from visit-ing sites that kids should not see. Screen Time also allows parents to block purchases made through iTunes, ensuring kids won’t run rampant spending money on mu-sic, television shows and music.

Parental controls can help parent’s monitor

their youngsters’ tablet usage and protect them

from visiting websites designed for adults.

Parents of young chil-dren tend to have a lot on their minds. While social media may not be moms’ and dads’ fore-most concern, it’s a top-ic that today’s parents must discuss with their children eventually.

Social media is largely uncharted territory for parents. Many parents

Discussing social media with young childrenof young children did not grow up with so-cial media. As a result, they might not know what constitutes appro-

priate usage, and how to convey that to kids growing up in a world where social media is so prevalent. Parents tasked with discussing social media with kids can consider the follow-ing tips.

•Recognize today’s kids are the most con-nected people in the world. UNICEF notes that young people be-tween the ages of 15 and 24 are the most connect-ed people in the world. Seventy-one percent of people in that age group are online, while just 48 percent of the total pop-ulation across the globe is online. Parents won’t be able to eliminate the internet or social media from their kids’ lives. So discussions about social

media usage should be about responsible usage, which should include limits on how much time kids spend online

each day.•Don’t view

social media as a villain. While social media gets its share of de-served and un-deserved criti-cism, UNICEF, in its “The State of the World’s Chil-dren 2017” re-

port, noted that digital technologies can serve as positive forces in the lives of young people. For example, digital technologies allow chil-dren to access informa-tion on issues affect-ing their communities. Some youngsters may use that access as inspi-ration to change their communities for the better. In addition, so-cial media allows young people with conditions such as cerebral palsy to interact with their peers in ways they might not have been able to in-teract in decades past. When discussing social media with their chil-dren, parents can em-phasize these positive aspects while also not-ing the negatives associ-ated with social media, using the combination

of both as an example of why social media must be used in moderation.

•Address the ele-phant in the room. Ev-eryone on the internet is not who they say they are, and parents must address this with their kids before youngsters open social media ac-counts. Point out to chil-dren that they should never “friend” anyone who they do not know. A 2015 report from Pew Research found that 41 percent of Facebook us-ers are connected with people they have never met in person. While adults who connect with strangers may not be in danger, kids may not be mature or savvy enough to recognize cyber criminals or oth-ers looking to prey on their inexperience and trustfulness. Explain this to children and use it to illustrate why mom and dad want to know who they’re speaking to online. Emphasize that your goal is to protect them, not invade their privacy.

Social media can be a difficult topic for par-ents to discuss with their children. Maintain-ing an open and honest dialogue that recognizes the pros and cons of social media can make such discussions more fruitful.

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It’s been around for over a decade, but vaping’s popularity exploded in 2017, taking many fami-lies, schools and health-care providers by surprise. Vaping, or Juuling (named after a popular vape de-vice called JUUL), is the inhalaing and exhaling of an aerosol produced using a vape device.

Nearly one in three high school seniors tried vap-ing in the past year 1 With advertising geared toward teens and young adults, devices designed to attract attention and thousands of flavors to choose from, the expectation is that growth will continue.

For every story tout-ing the benefits of vaping, there is an equal number raising concerns about its risks. The information here and in the accompanying vaping guide is meant to help you understand vap-ing, its appeal to youth and what research has to say about the known and unknown risks.

What is Vaping?Vape devices, known as

e-cigs, e-hookahs, mods, vape pens, vapes, tank systems and Juuls, contain four basic components: a cartridge or tank to hold e-liquid (or e-juice/vape sauce), a heating element known as an atomizer, a battery and a mouthpiece to inhale. A sensor detects when a person is trying to inhale. This triggers the battery to supply electric-ity to the atomizer. The heat given off vaporizes the e-liquid. The resulting vapor is what is inhaled.

How to talk with your kids about vapingWhat do vape devices

look like?Some vape devices

mimic cigarettes, cigars or pipes while others resem-ble USB sticks and other ev-eryday objects like a guitar pick. Larger devices like tank systems, or “mods,” look more like a small cell phone. Some devices are dis-posable while others can be recharged and refilled.

What is being vaped?Many substances can

be vaped, but the most common are variations of flavored e-liquids which come in small bottles or pre-filled pods or cartridg-es.

Flavored e-liquids come in thousands of flavors ranging from cotton candy and grape to king crab legs and hot dog.

Flavored e-liquids with differing levels of nicotine. One of the more popular devices, Juul, contains 59 mg/ml of nicotine in each pod, the equivalent of a pack of cigarettes.

Flavored e-liquids with marijuana. Marijuana can be vaped in a variety of forms including its dried leaves or using THC and/or CBD oil (THC is the psychoactive compound that creates a sense of be-ing high). (See below for more on vaping and mari-juana)

Why is vaping so popular?

Vaping was intended to be a less harmful option

for adult smokers, but en-ticing flavors combined with the power of social media to set off trends

like “cloud competitions” (think smoke rings and other exhaling tricks) have made it attractive to many teens and young adults.

Is Vaping Safe?The short answer is no,

vaping is not considered safe for teens and young adults, especially since their brains are still in a period of active develop-ment.

Vaping is a relatively new phenomenon, so long-term studies of its im-pact on young adult health and behavior have yet to be conducted. The most comprehensive research to date is a report commis-sioned by Congress from the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine. Released in January 2018, the report looked at exposure to nico-tine and other toxic sub-stances, dependence, harm reduction, smoking risks, cancer and more. Below are some key findings:

Exposure to nicotine is worrisome in teens and young adults because nicotine can be highly ad-dictive. Due to the fact that the brain is undergoing massive changes during the teen years, nicotine use may rewire the brain, mak-

ing it easier to get hooked on other substances and contribute to problems with concentration, learn-ing and impulse control.

Most vape devices re-lease a number of poten-tially toxic substances, although exposure is con-siderably lower than those found in regular cigarettes.

Dependence develops when the body adapts to repeated exposure to vap-ing. When a person stops vaping, he or she can expe-rience withdrawal symp-toms, although likely not as intense as with conven-tional cigarettes.

Vaping may be increas-ing risks of smoking. Teens and young adults who vape are almost four times as likely as their non-vap-ing peers to begin smoking cigarettes.

Injuries and poisonings have resulted from devices exploding and direct expo-sure to e-liquids.

Long-term studies are needed to evaluate the risks of cancer and respira-tory illness, though there is some concern that vaping can cause coughing and wheezing and may exacer-bate asthma.

Marijuana and VapingDevices and accessories

designed for vaping mari-juana are a booming busi-ness. Any marijuana use, whether vaped or other-wise, is a concern for ado-lescents and young adults. According to the CDC, marijuana use may have long-lasting permanent effects on developing ado-lescent brains. Negative ef-fects include:

Difficulty with critical thinking skills like atten-tion, problem-solving and memory;

Impaired reaction time and coordination, espe-cially as it relates to driv-ing;

Declines in school per-formance;

Increased risk of men-

tal health issues including depression or anxiety, and in some cases, psychosis where there is a family his-tory.

What Can Parents Do to Prevent Vaping?

Be equipped with facts. Download the vaping guide for parents and read it over. Remain familiar with vape devices, what’s being vaped and the risks associates.

Have conversations. Opportunities to discuss vaping can present them-selves in many ways: let-ters from the school, ad-vertisements, seeing it on TV, walking by someone vaping or passing a vape shop. Be ready to listen rather than lecture. Try us-ing an open-ended ques-tion like “What do you think about vaping?” to get the conversation going.

Convey your expecta-tions. Express your un-derstanding of the risks along with why you don’t want your child vaping. If you choose to set conse-quences, be sure to follow through while reinforcing healthier choices.

Be a good role model. Set a positive example by being vape and tobacco-free. If you do vape, keep your equipment and sup-plies secured.

What to Say When Your Teen Asks

Q: Isn’t vaping safer than smoking cigarettes?

Exposure to toxic sub-stances may be reduced, but there are still signifi-cant concerns when re-placing smoking cigarettes with vaping. One’s lungs are exposed to fine par-ticles, metals, other toxins and nicotine which are all harmful. You may use the example that “Driv-ing 90 miles an hour with a seat belt on is safer than without one, but neither is safe.” The same goes for vaping. And as with all substance use, ask your child why they’re inter-ested in vaping in the first place.

Q: Everyone is doing it, why do you care?

You can say, “I know you might think this because of what you see in school or on social media, but the fact is that the majority of teens are choosing not to vape. It might be popular among some kids, but that doesn’t mean it’s safe.”

Q: You smoke, so why shouldn’t I?

If you’ve tried to quit, respond by saying some-thing like, “You’re right, smoking is unhealthy and I’ve tried to quit and wish I had never started. I don’t want you to start an un-healthy habit and struggle the way I have.”

For more information, visit www.drugfree.org for more information and a free guide for parents.

Youth-related violence is a problem that plagues communities across the country.

Youth violence encom-passes everything from physical fighting to bully-ing to sexual or physical assault.

The World Health Orga-nization states that there are certain risk factors that elevate the likelihood of en-gaging in or being victim-ized by youth violence. In-dividuals who are exposed early to alcohol, drugs and tobacco and who may come from homes where crime is prevalent may be more inclined to engage in violent behaviors. Low commitment to school and conduct or behavioral dis-orders also can increase the chances of being involved in youth violence. Chil-dren who can be violent also may come from homes that have inconsistent su-pervision and disciplinary practices, or a low level of attachment between par-ents and children.

Preventing youth vio-lence depends on a num-ber of factors. Multifaceted strategies that address fac-tors at the individual, fam-ily and community levels may be needed, offers the Centers for Disease Con-trol and Prevention. Pro-moting supportive fam-ily environments and early childhood intervention of-fering quality education early in life, and strength-ening youth skills all may assist in keeping violent tendencies from surfacing. Connections to the com-munity and support sys-tems can be beneficial as well. Interventions to less-en the effects of exposure to violence and treatments to correct problematic be-haviors also are advised.

Some children can ben-efit from juvenile aware-

Addressing youth violenceness programs, sometimes referred to as “scared straight” programs. These include prison tours and exposure to criminals to help shed light on the con-sequences of delinquent or violent behavior. Other adolescents and teens may find value from boot camp-style disciplinary programs that redirect en-ergy in positive ways.

Youth violence can be addressed via vari-ous strategies aiming to keep young people, their schools and their commu-nities safe.

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There’s no easy way to figure out if your teen is using drugs or alcohol. As you’ll see, many of the signs and symptoms of teen substance abuse listed below are also, at times, typical adolescent behav-ior. Many are also symp-toms of mental health is-sues, including depression or anxiety disorders.

If you’ve noticed any of the changes related to sub-stance abuse listed below, don’t be afraid to come right out and ask your teen direct questions like “Have you been offered drugs?” If yes, “What did you do?” or “Have you been drink-ing or using drugs?” While no parent wants to hear a “yes” response to these questions, be prepared for it. Decide, in advance, how you’ll respond to a “yes”. Make sure you reas-sure your child that you’re looking out for him or her, and that you only want the best for his or her future.

Of course, not all teens are going to fess up to drug or alcohol use, and a “no” could also mean your child is in need of help for mental health issues. That’s why experts strong-ly recommend that you consider getting a profes-sional assessment of your child with a pediatrician or child psychologist to find out what’s going on. In the case of teen substance abuse, don’t be afraid to err on the side of caution. Teaming up with profes-sionals to help your teen is the best way to make sure he or she has a healthy fu-ture.

Personal Appearance•Messy, shows lack of car-ing for appearance•Poor hygiene•Red, flushed cheeks or face•Track marks on arms or legs (or long sleeves in warm weather to hide marks)•Burns or soot on fingers or lips (from “joints” or

“roaches” burning down)

Personal Habits or Actions•Clenching teeth•Smell of smoke or other unusual smells on breath or on clothes•Chewing gum or mints to cover up breath•Heavy use of over-the-counter preparations to re-duce eye reddening, nasal irritation, or bad breath•Frequently breaks curfew•Cash flow problems•Reckless driving, car accidents, or unexplained dents in the car•Avoiding eye contact•Locked doors•Going out every night•Secretive phone calls•“Munchies” or sudden appetite

Behavioral Issues Associated with Teen

Substance Abuse•Change in relationships with family members or friends•Loss of inhibitions•Mood changes or emo-tional instability

•Loud, obnoxious behav-ior•Laughing at nothing•Unusually clumsy, stum-bling, lack of coordination, poor balance•Sullen, withdrawn, depressed•Unusually tired•Silent, uncommunicative•Hostility, anger, uncoop-erative behavior•Deceitful or secretive•Makes endless excuses•Decreased Motivation•Lethargic movement•Unable to speak intel-ligibly, slurred speech, or rapid-fire speech•Inability to focus•Hyperactivity•Unusually elated•Periods of sleeplessness or high energy, followed by long periods of “catch up” sleep•Disappearances for long periods of time

School- or Work-Related Issues

•Truancy or loss of inter-est in schoolwork•Loss of interest in

Is your teen using? Signs and symptoms of substance abuseextracurricular activities, hobbies, or sports•Failure to fulfill responsi-bilities at school or work•Complaints from teach-ers or co-workers•Reports of intoxication at school or work

Health Issues Related to Teen Substance Abuse

•Nosebleeds•Runny nose, not caused by allergies or a cold•Frequent sickness•Sores, spots around mouth•Queasy, nauseous•Seizures•Vomiting•Wetting lips or excessive thirst (known as “cotton mouth”)•Sudden or dramatic weight loss or gain•Skin abrasions/bruises•Accidents or injuries•Depression•Headaches•Sweatiness

Home- or Car-Related•Disappearance of prescription of over-the-

counter pills•Missing alcohol or ciga-rettes•Disappearance of money or valuables•Smell in the car or bottles, pipes, or bongs on floor or in glove box•Appearance of unusual containers or wrappers, or seeds left on surfaces used to clean marijuana, like Frisbees,•Appearance of unusual drug apparatuses, includ-ing pipes, rolling papers, small medicine bottles, eye drops, butane light-ers, or makeshift smoking devices, like bongs made out of toilet paper rolls and aluminum foil•Hidden stashes of alco-hol

Are you feeling over-whelmed, stressed or have a specific question about your child’s drug or alco-hol use? Call our Toll-Free Helpline at 1-855-DRUG-FREE (1-855-378-4373) to speak with a trained spe-cialist.

Many changes take place during a person’s teenage years. In addition to the physical manifestations of puberty, which bring hor-monal shifts and heightened sexual awareness, emotional and psychological changes can occur. This often is a time when social circles develop, and also when many teens begin to date.

Teenage dating can be both exciting and tumultu-ous. Teens may be so anxious to feel accepted and loved that they overlook some of the warning signs of a bad relationship. In such instanc-es, teens may compromise their own safety in an effort to keep relationships alive.

Recognize teen dating violenceTo ensure teens stay safe

while dating, parents must speak to their children about violence, particularly as it pertains to dating. Violence includes physical abuse and more. Sexual assault, psy-chological and emotional violence or even stalking also must be discussed with teens. Parents should emphasize that healthy relationships are built on honesty, trust, equality, and compromise.

Teen dating violence may be more common than par-ents know. Youth.gov says a national survey of teens in the United States found that 10 percent of them had been the victims of physical dat-

ing violence in the past year, and approximately 20 per-cent of adolescents reported psychological or verbal abuse within the previous year.

Friends and family close to teens who are of dating age can take steps to recog-nize and thwart teen dating violence.

• Use respectful language that does not promote ste-reotypes or sexism and is unlikely to be perceived as condescending by teens.

• Learn the warning signs of abuse. These can include a drop in grades; disinter-est in previous hobbies or activities; physical bruises; symptoms of depression or anxiety; and other changes in behavior.

• Keep an open dialogue with teens who are dating to ensure that the relationship is healthy and safe.

• Reduce risk factors that can increase the likelihood of someone being subjected to violence in a relationship. Exposure to stressful life events, coming from disad-vantaged homes, participa-tion in risky behaviors, par-ticipating in peer violence, and being exposed to harsh parenting all increase the risk that teens will be sub-jected to relationship-related violence.

Many adults may recall being bullied or witness-ing bullying when they were in school. Despite that, it’s important that adults, including parents and educators, not see bul-lying as an inevitable part of growing up. The effects of bullying can be severe, affecting those involved — including the bullied, the bullies and those who merely witness bullying — long after their school days have ended.

According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, bullying has been linked to various negative outcomes, mental health issues, substance abuse and suicide.

When taking steps to combat bullying, parents and educators should not overlook the benefits of

What kids can do in the face of bullying

• Lessen the stigma for those who may have expe-rienced violence coming forward by openly com-municating and supporting others.

• Show respect to others and be proud and respectful of who you are. Be a positive role model in all you do.

Teen dating violence is a problem that requires atten-tion and a voice so that it can be reduced.

enlisting children in their efforts. Kids can be great allies in the fight against bullying, and the following are some ways adults can work with youngsters who want to stop bullying.

Teaching kids to respect others

StopBullying.gov, the DHHS’ website devoted to stopping bullying once and for all, notes the im-portance of teaching kids to treat everyone, includ-ing other children, with respect. Parents can teach kids to pause before saying or doing something that can be harmful to someone else. Bullying inflicts phys-ical and emotional pain on its victims, so teaching kids to recognize that words can be just as harmful as fists may encourage them

to think twice before say-

ing something mean to a classmate.

The DHHS also recom-mends advising children to do something else if they feel an urge to say or do something mean. Walk away from a situation to

watch television, play a

video game or engage in another activity rather than saying or doing something hurtful.

What kids being bullied can do

Kids being bullied also

can employ certain strate-gies to overcome bullying. The DHHS recommends teaching children to look at bullies and telling them to stop in a calm, clear voice. Laughing it off might also work for kids who find joking comes naturally to them. The DHHS advises against fighting back, in-stead suggesting kids walk away and stay away before finding an adult who can stop the bullying on the spot.

Encouraging students to confide in adults they trust also can help them overcome bullying and the feelings of loneliness that bullying can elicit. Trusted adults can help children devise a plan to stop the bullying. The DHHS notes that most bullying hap-pens when adults are not around, so staying near adults and other children can help kids avoid situa-

tions where they might be vulnerable to bullies.

What witnesses to bullying can do

Bullying can have a negative impact on chil-dren who witness bullying, even if they aren’t the vic-tims. Adults can encourage children to speak to trusted adults and to report in-stances of bullying. In ad-dition, children should be encouraged to be kind to children who are being bullied, inviting them to sit with them on the bus or in the lunch room and engag-ing them in conversations about topics that interest them.

Bullying affects children whether they’re being bul-lied, doing the bullying or witnessing it. But bullying can be overcome if adults and children work together and keep lines of commu-nication open at all times.

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