GLSEN (Gay, Lesbian & Straight Education Network) believes in celebrating kindness while working to create safe schools free of name-calling, bullying and bias.
Motivated by this simple, yet powerful, idea — and supported by over 60 national partner organizations — No Name-Calling Week is celebrated each year in schools across the nation.
GLSEN wants to help you put a spotlight on name-calling and bullying in your school.
Be one of the brave, and join GLSEN in celebrating No Name-Calling Week January 19-23, 2015. Whether you’re a teacher, student, guidance counselor, coach, librarian or bus driver, show you care by organizing a week of activities at your school aimed at ending name-calling once and for all.
Whether it is offline or online teasing or harassing of someone, name-calling is cruel and believe it or not, isn’t limited to children.
I challenge all adults to caution their words to each other. Kids are like sponges -they will absorb all the words that they hear in your home or car – as well as what they read on your social media accounts.
Keep in mind grownups are need to lead in this no name-calling week by treating each other kindly.
- Thank the bus driver
- Thank the school nurse
- Let another car go first even if you have right of way
- Always thank your servers, even if they are having a bad day
- Smile at a stranger or homeless person – acknowledge others
- Buy a cup a coffee for someone
- Stop with the harsh words on social media, pause before you post
- Oversharing is only about teens on social networks, it takes a second to hit send – take 60-seconds to consider that comment or photo.
Parents encourage your kids to celebrate kindness in their own ways by giving them some ideas.
- Sit with someone new at lunch
- Welcome new students to their class
- Take notice if someone is having a bad day, say a few kind words
- Thank a teacher
- If someone is being taunted online from your school, find them in person and support them by helping them to understanding cyberbullying reporting
- Make it a habit to take a minute to think before you post or send any email
These lists could go on and on. Kindness is something that comes from your heart, not from my posts. These may be a few words that will give you an idea, but it needs to come from you.
Take this week to launch your year to #CelebrateKindness – remember, to #TweetSweet.
