Hearing stories day in and day out about bullying among children is enough to make anyone’s heart heavy, but meeting the terrific people who work tirelessly to halt aggression among kids is nothing short of inspiring. I’ve met quite a few heroes in the last few years, working in this field, but chief among them are the guys from Sweethearts & Heroes, who are bringing their unique, engaging anti-bullying, pro-Hero message to schools all across NY, VT, and beyond. Please check them out!
I wish I were able to get the whole news clip for you here…but believe me when I say it’s worth a visit to this CBS local news affiliate website to check out what the Dallas Children’s Theater’s resident playwright, Linda Daugherty, has to say about “The Secret Life of Girls.”
http://dfw.cbslocal.com/video/6744760-dallas-childrens-theater-addresses-bullying-in-play/
I’m headed to Dallas this weekend to see the play on Friday and then present a 75min. workshop based on Friendship & Other Weapons to a group of Moms and Daughters before Saturday’s performance of The Secret Life of Girls. Really looking forward to the trip!
I am completely honored to be the keynote speaker for the Dallas Children’s Theater’s presentation of “The Secret Life of Girls.” Check it out:
THE SECRET LIFE OF GIRLS, a Dallas Children’s Theater TEEN SCENE production, runs Feb. 10 – 26, 2012.
The Secret Life of Girls is an honest, unflinching, and timely look at the destructive world of bullying. This dynamic play is sweeping the country with over 100 productions across the U.S. Not just for girls, this is a dramatic family event with an insightful dialogue following every performance.
Children’s author Trudy Ludwig is featured in this article about her recent school visits, talking to kids, professionals, and parents about bullying. LOVE this author, love her work. Please check her out:
They will not remember what we said.
They will not even remember what we did.
But they will never forget how we made them feel.
–Maya Angelou
In Friendship & Other Weapons, girls are given the opportunity to learn and talk about the role of social media in their lives and relationships. This YouTube video is a great entre for teaching girls–and boys–about the permancy of what they post online–via Facebook, MySpace, YouTube, or even text. “Once you post it, you lose control.”
Showing and discussing this video with kids is 99 seconds well-spent.
Last week, this post on Conversing About Kindness with Kids caught my eye…and I vowed that February 1st would be the start date for my family to do as the author suggests and “think of one thing we can do each day to be kind to someone else.”
Two years ago, my Chinese New Year-inspired proclamation that 2010 would be “The Year of Kindness” in our family rather than the Year of the Tiger, garnered groans and well-deserved accusations of cheesiness. Ahh well…my kids are two years older now…and 730 days more accustomed to me talking about the importance of kindness. I may well get groans again tomorrow…but no matter…I know that my kids are internalizing an important message.
In Friendship & Other Weapons, kids are engaged in fun activities around building values of kindness, empathy, compassion, and cooperation as a way of changing the culture of bullying in schools and helping kids cope effectively with relational aggression.
Check it out: http://www.kidsafefoundation.org/conversing-about-kindness-with-kids/
Don’t just take my word for it; check out this new review of Friendship & Other Weapons, featured in the Reclaiming Children & Youth newsletter:
It turns out that while sticks and stones can break your bones, words can also really hurt. In honor of proving the out-of-date childhood adage incorrect, the week of January 23rd-27th has been set aside as No Name-Calling Week in schools across the country.
Check out my recommendations on Yahoo! Shine for best children’s book titles that can help you reinforce this important anti-bullying message at home:
http://shine.yahoo.com/parenting/no-name-calling-week-using-positive-books-prevent-142100438.html
Signe Whitson is an author and educator on bullying, crisis intervention, and child and adolescent emotional and behavioral health. In her articles, books, and training workshops, Signe provides down-to-earth, practical advice for professionals and parents on navigating the daily challenges of living and working with children, tweens and teens.
