Bullying''

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Bullying..

• Parent Educational Series
• 2/10/09
• Presenter Melissa DaCosta

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General Announcements

• Video example- success!
• Family Support Website
• http//www.pacer.org/about/PACERfacts.asp
• UMASS Study
• Kidspiration
• Other

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Tips of the Day - Social Events

• When going to large social gatherings, arrive
  early to let your child get accustomed to the
  growing number of people.
• If your child becomes distressed during a social
  gathering, pick a quiet place to go or take him
  out for a walk.
• When visiting someones home, ask to remove
  breakables from your childs reach avoid homes
  where people refuse to accommodate your request.
• Bring your childs favorite toys or stuffed
  animals to a family gathering or other social
  event.
• Before going to a family event, show your child
  individual pictures of family members and teach
  him their names.
• Before going to a social event, write out and
  have your child practice simple courtesy phrases
  and responses to questions.
• Let trusted others watch your child if they
  volunteer ask for help if you need it.
• Treasure any positive comments made about your
  child.
• Accept unwanted advice with the phrase, Ill
  have to think about that, and smile.

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See the sheet and help us out!!!

• Tip of the day
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Bullying.

• "My son suffers from anxiety and he IS the bully.
  It is part of his defense. If he bullies others,
  he gives them the reason not to like him and in
  his mind, he maintains control of the rejections.
  I care because I want to help him stop. He really
  wants to stop too because he really just wants
  friends, he is just so scared of rejection."
• Brenda, 39, CT "Bullying is simply wrong,
  hurtful, and mentally debilitating. It lowers
  self-esteem and self respect."
• Nicole, 38, MI "I would like to help empower
  students to take a stand against bullying."

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Autism The Musical

• http//www.dailymotion.com/video/x4qzqn_autism-the
  -musicalclip-2
• Great movie to understand more deeply how
  children on the spectrum truly feel

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Why children with autism can be vulnerable

• Difficulties with non-verbal behavior (making eye
  contact, using and interpreting facial
  expressions
• They may act in ways which seem unconventional or
  strange, as a result of not understanding social
  rules and norms
• Difficulties with physical coordination
• Sensory difficulties
• Narrow interests in certain topics

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How it effects children (with or without autism)

• Effects self-esteem, social skills, mental
  health, and progress in school
• ASD because children w/ ASD often have
  difficulty understanding social rules, when
  others take advantage of this it can make it even
  more difficult for them to develop social
  understanding

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SOLUTIONS

• Social skills training
• role playing
• video modeling of appropriate social skills
• practice practice practice!!
• (This may also help children with ASD who bully
  others to understand the impact of their
  behavior)

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SOLUTIONS

• Social stories
• Use visuals to help explain the abstract concepts
• Activity
• Get in groups and use cue card examples to
  come up with a solution to address these
  situations with your children! What should they
  do? How can you explain this situation to them?
  Would you make a social story? A visual? Role
  Play?
• 20 minutes

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SOLUTIONS

• Peer mentoring
• Play groups outside of school with school peers
• Befriending and buddy schemes
• Structured play activities during breaks
• Circle of friends
• RAISING AWARENESS
• This should be done with children AND adults!

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What else can you do???

• Talk and listen to your kids everyday- even if it
  is through pictures, feelings charts, stories, or
  sign language.
• Communicate with teachers about how you childs
  day was- use the communication log!
• Be a good example of kindness and leadership
• Learn the signs (frequent loss of personal
  belongings, complaints of headaches or
  stomachaches, avoiding recess or school
  activities, getting to school very late or very
  early) please use your judgment because some of
  these signs are in fact characteristics of ASD.
• Create healthy anti- bullying habits early
• Establish household rules about bullying
• Computer generation- cyber bullying

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Bullying Website

• http//www.pacerkidsagainstbullying.org/
• This site is linked with ASA

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What is Chicopee Doing About Bullying?

• Second Step
• District Wide Program
• Trained staff in each building
• Additional components in different building (Sort
  of Success, Gallop Awards etc)

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TIME TO PICK UP THE KIDS! -)

• Have a good night, and as always- thank you for
  your attendance and input on the topic!