I’m not wearing purple today. No, not because I don’t care about ending bullying. I care. I just didn’t have anything purple clean.
So, here’s the deal. My way of helping to end bullying is to call kids on it when I see them doing it, offering kids a safe place in my house that’s a no-bully zone, and if someone who has been bullying behaves him or her self, why there’s a place at my kitchen counter for cookies and help with homework for them, too.
Not hyperbole. I’ve stopped kids from bullying (throwing rocks, actually), offered a safe place for kids who felt unsafe on the street, helped with homework, fed kids snacks and meals, and a former bully (the rock thrower) is a regular guest at my table with the understanding that he has to at least be non-destructive to the people around him to keep the privilege.
Purple is cool. But that’s the first step.
Think about what you can do for Step Two, then go do that.