Promoting Kindness All Year Long
October is Bullying Prevention Month, and it’s been inspiring to see so many PTOs and PTAs posting on Facebook about special color days and rallies at their schools to promote an anti-bullying message. And there also are many ways to continue the message throughout the school year.
Here’s one good example: The PTO at Pillager (Minn.) Elementary just wrapped up a contest in which students created anti-bullying messages with posters or essays. They were asked to use the theme “We pledge to be pawsitively bully free!” (The school’s mascot is a husky.)
The PTO decided to go with an art contest after a conversation with the principal, says Misty Cremers, the parent group’s president. The principal shared that parents were requesting more art enrichment, and Cremers says the anti-bullying art contest seemed like a perfect way to meet two goals. Of the 500 students at Pillager, 150 submitted either posters or essays. Two students from each grade were selected as winners. The PTO asked the cafeteria staff to judge all submissions and winners were awarded ice cream treats!
Another fun idea: The PTA at Randall Heights Elementary in St. Paul, Minn., held an event called #KindnessinChalk, says Ann Johnson, the group’s president. Kids and parents created uplifting messages such as “U R Amazing!” with colored chalk on sidewalks around the school.
For more ideas that can work throughout the school year, read our post called “10 Simple Anti-Bullying Programs To Try at Your School.”
Two of our favorites from that piece:
- Get kids involved: Have children participate in the morning announcements. They can share a quote or an uplifting message that encourages kindness.
- Locker notes: This one is suited for middle school students. Work with the students to write notes of encouragement to classmates and then help them secretly slip the notes into lockers. Students find a nice surprise when they return to their lockers.
Also, our sister site, SchoolFamily.com, has helpful anti-bullying resources you can share with parents, including tips on dealing with bullies on the school bus and an online quiz to take to help determine the difference between kidding, teasing, and bullying.
