Reduce bullying with B.U.S.T.E.R.

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Reduce bullying with B.U.S.T.E.R.

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Remember that 85% of our kids on a school campus are witnessing bullying. But we also know from researches that if we can mobilize those kids and teach them specific safety skills, they can actually step in and reduce it. I teach B.U.S.T.E.R., bully B.U.S.T.E.R. And hundreds of kids have learned these skills and it's actually reduced bullying dramatically. Here's B.U.S.T.E.R.: B is, you can teach the child to befriend the child. Simply walking over to a child who is a victim, putting your hand slowly and carefully on his shoulder actually can mobilize the rest of the kids, "Gee, I should be more caring too." U is use an excuse or use a distraction. Why? Because bullies love power. They love everybody watching. But if you can diffuse the group by getting them away from the audience of a bully, you can actually help it. "Hey, the teacher's coming or the bell's gonna ring." S is feel free to say no, or that's wrong. Some kids can actually verbalize, "Stop doing that. That's being cruel." And you'll mobilize more kids. T, anytime you notice that it's not safe or a child could be in harm's way or yourself, tell or text another adult to come and help. E is if you cannot do anything, tell your child, "Do not stand there because you're giving an audience to the bully." Instead, E is exit. And finally, T is tell why it's wrong. Fascinating that they've actually discovered that if kids just say, "That's wrong," or, "Somebody could get hurt," or, "The rules are in this school you don't bully," it can diffuse the situation and mobilize the rest of the kids. Bully B.U.S.T.E.R. B is befriend. U is use an excuse. S is say no. T is tell someone. E is exit. And R is give a reason. Practice those skills over and over with your child and what you'll have is a safer group of kids and a reduction of bullying.

See Michele Borba, EdD's video on Reduce bullying with B.U.S.T.E.R....

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Expert Bio

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Michele Borba, EdD

Educational Psychologist

Michele Borba, EdD is a Today Show contributor and recipient of the National Educator Award. She is recognized for her practical, solution-based parenting strategies and is an expert of bullying. Michele is the author of 22 books including Building Moral Intelligence and No More Misbehavin’. She appears as an expert on shows such as Dr. Phil, The View, and CNN and is an advisory board member for Parentsmagazine. 

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