8 Keys to End Bullying: Strategies for Parents & Schools

by Signe Whitson, Babette Rothschild (Foreword by)

Overview

Tackling an all-too-prevalent problem among kids with 8 smart, practical strategies.

Groundbreaking books have peered into the psychology of bullying and the cultural climate that—seemingly now more than ever—gives rise to such cruelty and aggression. But few have been able to synthesize what we know into 8 simple, targeted “keys” that equip educators, professionals, and parents with practical strategies to tackle the issue head-on. This book answers that call.

Social media bullying—and the recent tragedies stemming from it—has given the widespread problem a new dimension. While no magic cure-all exists, adults can learn and implement all sorts of quick and easy techniques that can make a huge difference in the lives of kids. In 8 core strategies, this book lays them out, from establishing meaningful connections with kids to creating a positive school climate, addressing cyberbullying, building social emotional competence, reaching out to bullies, empowering bystanders, and much more.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780393709285
Publisher:	Norton, W. W. & Company, Inc.
Publication date:	05/26/2014
Series:	8 Keys to Mental Health
Pages:	240
Product dimensions:	6.10(w) x 9.10(h) x 0.80(d)

About the Author

Signe Whitson, a licensed social worker, school counselor, and author, is COO of the Life Space Crisis Intervention Institute and presents workshops nationwide for parents and professionals on bullying prevention and helping kids manage anger. She lives in the Lehigh Valley of Pennsylvania.

Babette Rothschild, MSW, LCSW is an internationally recognized PTSD specialist and best-selling author of seven books translated into twenty languages, including her new offerings Help for the Helper Updated + Expanded and the 8 Keys to Safe Trauma Recovery Workbook. Babette is also the creator and Series Editor of W. W. Norton’s 8 Keys to Mental Health Series. She currently lives in Los Angeles, California.

Table of Contents

Foreword Babette Rothschild ix

Introduction xi

Key 1 Know Bullying When You See Bullying 1

Key 2 Establish Connections With Kids 31

Key 3 Stop Bullying Whenever You See Bullying 49

Key 4 Deal Directly With Cyberbullying 66

Key 5 Build Social and Emotional Competence 96

Key 6 Turn Bystanders Into Buddies 128

Key 7 Reach Out to Kids Who Bully 147

Key 8 Keep the Conversation Going 167

Resources 191

References 199

Index 205

Editorial Reviews

04/21/2014
Whitson (Friendship and Other Weapons) gives parents and educators an excellent set of tools to help young people deal with bullying, with “specific, clear, helpful guidelines… on how to intervene in effective ways.” Whitson begins by defining bullying as “intentionally aggressive behavior, repeated over time, that involves an imbalance of power,” carefully distinguishing it from behavior that is simply rude or mean. She distinguishes between varieties of bullying, from physical and verbal violence, relational abuse (like spreading rumors) and withdrawal of friendship to cyberbullying. While warning that there is no easy solution, she suggests “small, powerful acts” in an ongoing campaign to prevent bullying. Whitson goes beyond the expected with the rest of the seven keys, providing exercises, questions to consider, and practical strategies to help victims, bystanders, and even bullies. She devotes a chapter to changing the entire culture of a school via “social and emotional learning” because parents and teachers must be ready to provide powerful support. A necessary read for parents and teachers. (May)

Publishers Weekly

"Whitson shares illustrative examples, current research, and practical strategies that anyone who works with children can use . . . [A]ccessible and practical. . . the book can help equip adults, who might otherwise feel at a loss when they encounter bullying, with the strategies, knowledge, and encouragement that they can make a difference."

Barclay & Associates

"Whitson shines when she approaches anti-bullying from a teaching framework . . . . Whitson’s overall emphasis on having conversations with kids, exchanging ideas, and fostering mutual agreement will undoubtedly benefit both parents and children."

PsychCentral

"This book offers great tips, strategies, and resources for parents, educators, and counseling professionals who want to make a positive difference in children's lives. I highly recommend it!"

Trudy Ludwig

"Whitson breaks down the massive topic of bullying prevention by organizing it into eight comprehensive keys, each filled with teaching points, engaging stories, and actionable advice. Her book is both enjoyable to read and highly useful as a guide for educators and parents who want to make a difference."

Carrie Goldman

". . . [A] clear, practical 'how to' book that makes a seemingly overwhelming issue more manageable."

Rosalind Wiseman

"Signe Whitson combines current research and best practices in 8 Keys to End Bullying to not only open the door to comprehensive bullying prevention, but also to help plug the holes in policies so that no child falls through the cracks."

Heather Thomas

2014-04-02
How to identify and terminate aggressive mistreatment of and by children. Bullying has been around for decades, but with the advent of the Internet, cellphones and other electronic devices, children are being subjected to this form of intimidation far beyond the reaches of the playground. A social worker and educator specializing in youth issues, Whitson (Friendship and Other Weapons, 2011, etc.) outlines an eight-step practical approach to prevention for parents, community leaders and teachers. The first key is to distinguish between a harmless prank and actual bullying; the author explains how to identify aggressive behavior, why students engage in these acts and which kids are likely to be victims. By establishing a connection or bond with a child, adults will have a better chance of discovering acts of bullying and stopping them. Whitson includes actual scenarios with possible responses, so adults are not at a loss for words when confronting a bully. (Brief messages are best, she notes.) Teaching children how to be safe online is another important idea in this age of cyberbullying, which can affect even the youngest of children. The author emphasizes the need to teach netiquette and to know a child's passwords; she also covers safety strategies children can learn to protect themselves when online without adult supervision. Through communication with would-be bullies and their potential victims, much of this maltreatment can be avoided. "Maintaining an open dialogue about bullying and making sure that we continue to shine a bright light on this once-shadowed topic," writes the author, "is the only way that we will be able to hold adults and kids accountable for bringing an end to this long-standing problem." The conversation is far from over, but Whitson blasts a hole in the darkness, providing useful information on how this form of persecution can be halted.

Kirkus Reviews