Wellness Wednesdays

October is National Bullying Prevention Month. Each week, we'll feature a special tip from different departments within the school system for Wellness Wednesday. 

October 9, 2024 | Brought to you by the Aggie Advocacy Center

What is bullying? Bullying is unwanted, aggressive behavior among school-aged children that involve a real or perceived power imbalance. The behavior is repeated, or has the potential to be repeated, over time. Types of bullying include:

• Verbal bullying is saying or writing mean things. 
• Social bullying, sometimes referred to relational bullying, involves hurting someone's reputation or relationships. 
• Physical bullying involves hurting a person's body or possessions. 

Bystanders, or those who see bullying, can make a huge difference when they intervene on behalf of someone being bullied. Studies have shown that adults can help prevent bullying by talking to children about bullying, encouraging them to do what they love, modeling kindness and respect and seeking help.

Parents, school staff and other caring adults have a role to play in preventing bullying. 

• Help kids understand bullying. Talk about what bullying is and how to stand up to it safely. Tell kids bullying is unacceptable. Make sure kids know how to get help. 
• Keep the lines of communication open. Check in with kids often. Listen to them. Know their friends, ask about school and understand their concerns. 
• Encourage kids to do what they love. Special activities, interests and hobbies can boost confidence, help kids make friends and protect them from bullying behavior. 
• Model how to treat others with kindness and respect. 

Additional Resources

• What can parents do?
• How do I talk to my child about bullying?
• Bullying - What You Need to Know

October 16, 2024 | Brought to you by Aggie Nutrition

Make snacking a smart habit! Keep your snacking lively by including snacks that contain grains, especially whole grains, lean protein and healthy fats. Some examples include fat-free yogurt with fruit, whole grain crackers with low fat cheese or raw veggies with hummus!