On March 1, 2023, middle school parents gathered in the MS Library to hear Rosalind Wiseman, noted author and bullying prevention expert, talk about bullying and our kids’ peer-to-peer relationships. Some key points she made were the difference between treating people with dignity vs respect, and what motivates young people to treat others with empathy, and the differences between being mean, rude, and bullying. The Q&A was robust, and we all left wanting more.

The slides from her presentation can be found here. Other recommended resources on this topic include:

• Choose Kindness Project: Find actionable resources from The Choose Kindness Alliance — a coalition of the nation’s leading nonprofit organizations — focusing on bullying prevention, intentional inclusion and youth mental wellness.

• Be There: The Be There Certificate is a free, self-paced learning experience designed to increase mental health literacy and provide you with the knowledge, skills, and confidence needed to safely support anyone who may be struggling with their mental health.

• The 3 C’: National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) created The Three C’s to help parents/caregivers and their children feel supported as they talk about mental health and wellness, identify concrete support, and connect empathetically at home.

For parents who would like to be part of a Parent Engagement Committee that organizes social activities, empathy and kindness campaigns, and awareness around topics that face youth this age, please email lcaruso@pelhamtogether.org.

Pelham Together is a not-for-profit, 501c-3 organization that relies on individual financial support to provide these types of events, addressing concerns and topics facing Pelham youth and their parents and caregivers. If you found this information valuable, please consider supporting our work with a donation.