Experts Share Tips to Help Parents Stop Bullying Early
October is Bullying Prevention Month, and experts are reminding parents that stopping bullying starts at home.
The U.S. C
enter for SafeSport is encouraging families to take a closer look at how everyday conversations and actions can help prevent bullying before it starts. The organization’s prevention expert, Monica Rivera, says parents play a vital role by modeling kindness, setting clear expectations, and encouraging open communication with their children.
Rivera says Bullying Prevention Month provides a perfect opportunity to bring up the topic in a natural, supportive way.
“I also think using Bullying Prevention Month—being able to say, ‘Hey, I saw this thing on the news about bullying prevention month, does that happen in your school?’ or ‘What do you think adults don’t understand about the way bullying happens in sports?’—to really utilize the expertise of kids,” Rivera said.
SafeSport urges parents to watch for changes in behavior, sleep, or social interactions that may signal their child is being bullied—or possibly bullying others.
The organization offers free online resources to help families guide these important discussions and build environments where empathy, respect, and accountability thrive.
More information related to bullying prevention can be found on the Center’s Prevent Bullying in Sport webpage, including the Bullying Prevention Handbook, Bullying 101: Understanding and Responding, and the Coaches’ Bullying Behavior Discussion Guide.
