Today’s Resiliency Play of the Day from the Ripken Playbook focuses on how becoming an active bystander can prevent bullying in your community. This Play of the Day is inspired by our Healthy Choices, Healthy Children -- Resiliency edition.
What is a Bystander?
Sometimes you may witness a classmate being mean to another classmate or friend, but feel unsure of what to do or how to help. When you choose to watch bullying instead of helping the targeted person, this means you are acting as a bystander. Instead of acting as a bystander, you can learn to be proactive and act as a positive leader to help stop bullying in your community.
Positive Leadership when you Witness Bullying
- Report the situation to a trusted adult.
- Listen to the targeted person and make them feel included.
- Do not join in if others are laughing at the targeted person, instead, try to walk away from the situation with them.
- Privately talk to the bully and tell them their behavior is not okay.
When in doubt, keep it simple: imagine how the targeted person is feeling being bullied.
Create your own Bystander Poster
Materials
- Paper
- Markers/colored pencils or pen/pencil
Instructions
- Think about situations at school, at your after-school program, or playing sports where you have witnessed bullying and stood by as a bystander? What would you do differently?
- Using what you learned today about active bystanders, create an anti-bullying poster/flyer to encourage your peers to take action and speak up when they see bullying.
- Want to take it a step further? Create a video explaining your poster and what you will do to prevent bullying.
Share your posters with us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter!