PACER NBPC Publications

• PACER’s National Bullying Prevention Center – Informational Flyer for Events, Activities and Promotions

  Download a free, colorful, and informative 8 ½ x 11 (2-sided) flyer, available in either Spanish or English, that outlines the creative resources, outreach activities, and opportunities available from PACER’s National Bullying Prevention Center. Print the flyer and use it for your local event, activity, or fundraiser. Limited quantities of pre-printed flyers are also available by emailing [email protected] and providing your name, organization, address, information on the event/activity/fundraiser where you’ll be using them, along with the preferred language and quantity being requested.

• Order the Book

  Beyond Sticks & Stones: How to Help Your Child Address Bullying

  An important book that offers real-world bullying prevention strategies for children at home, in school, and online. It contains the latest information and practical tools that can help parents and others take action against bullying. Written and designed by staff of PACER’s National Bullying Prevention Center, the book was developed to help parents protect their child or someone they know from being bullied, and to help parents be proactive in their community in addressing bullying.

  The book features information that is also in many of PACER’s handouts:

  • Discussion on the dynamics of bullying
  • Strategies on how parents can work with their child
  • Tips to help parents work with their child’s school
  • Information about legal rights
  • A special section for parents of children with disabilities
  • Specific ways for schools, communities, teens and children to become “Champions Against Bullying”
  • Comprehensive list of bullying prevention resources

  Throughout the book, there are valuable comments from children and teens that illustrate the face of bullying today. Read the introduction to Beyond Sticks & Stones.

  $5 each | 10+ copies, $4 each | Publication Code: BP-7 | Created/Updated: 2013

  Call to Order: 952-838-9000
  To order by mail, use this Publication Order Form

• Kids Against Bullying Classroom Activity Book

  Eight-page classroom activity book designed with educational activities that incorporate the KidsAgainstBullying.org website. It engages young learners in creative ways, incorporating the Club Crew cast from the Kids Against Bullying website. The content provides activities to help students think about their feelings, explore responses to bullying situations, and take the pledge to be a Kid Against Bullying. Free to download, full color or black/white.

• Cyberbullying: What Parents Should Know

  Students now live at a time of instant access to cell phones, tablets, or computers, which open  the door to exciting new ways of connecting, interacting, and learning. However, these new modes of communication also present new challenges for parents. Not only do parents have to help children and youth navigate in-person social situations, they also need to prepare them for healthy relationships online. This 16-page booklet has information for parents on how to guide their children through this virtual world. Download the booklet.

• Disney Junior Kindness Kit

  Join Disney Junior and PACER’s National Bullying Prevention Center to explore and inspire what it means to choose kindness! Disney Junior is encouraging children to show kindness at home, school and within their community with this Kindness Kit available to download for parents and schools across the country. Disney Junior’s new series "Vampirina" tells the story of a young vampire girl who faces the joys and trials of being the new kid in town when her family moves from Transylvania to Pennsylvania. The series follows Vampirina (aka "Vee") as she adjusts to life in the human world, including making friends and attending a new school. Along the way, Vee learns that it may be easier to blend in with her peers, but it's more valuable to celebrate the qualities that make each individual unique. Download the Disney Junior Kindness Kit.

• Downloadable Handouts and Information

  Check Out our Spanish and Somali translated materials.

  “What You Can Do”

  This 4-part handout series provides comprehensive information for students and adults about how to help someone who is experiencing bullying, as well as how to address bullying in the community.

  • What Youth Can Do If They Are Experiencing Bullying
  • What Youth Can Do to Help Peers Who Are Experiencing Bullying
  • What Adults Can Do to Help Youth Experiencing Bullying
  • What Communities Can Do to Address and Prevent Bullying

  Notifying the School About Bullying

  Using a Template Letter (View as a handout) | (Also translated into Spanish)

  Parents should contact school staff each time their child informs them that he or she has been bullied. PACER Center has created template letters that parents may use as a guide for writing a letter to their child’s school. These letters contain standard language and “fill in the blank” spaces so the letter can be customized for your child, including letters customized for children with disabilities.

  • Notifying the School About A Bullying Situation (Word Doc | Pdf)
  • When the bullying is based on the child's disability, federal laws can also apply under Section 504, Individuals with Disabilities Act (IDEA) and Americans with Disabilities Act Amendments Act of 2008(ADAAA).
  • Version for a Student with a 504 Plan (Word Doc | Pdf)
  • Version for a Student with an IEP Plan (Word Doc | Pdf)

  PACER Center’s sample letter(s) can serve two purposes.

  • First, the letter will alert school administration of the bullying and your desire for interventions against the bullying.
  • Second, the letter can serve as your written record when referring to events. The record (letter) should be factual and absent of opinions or emotional statements.

  For a complete listing of state laws, visit the interactive map at StopBullying.Gov

  Data is important.  Remember, if it is not in writing, it does not exist. Please be sure to keep a copy of the letter(s) for your records.  These records can help parents keep a concise, accurate timeline of events. These sample letters are general in nature in order to serve all potential users.

  Please contact PACER’s National Bullying Prevention Center for more specific guidance regarding your particular circumstances.

• How To Tell An Adult

  This poster provides younger students with helpful information about how to tell an adult if they see bullying or are being bullied.

  View or download.

• Student Action Plan Against Bullying + Guide for Using the Plan

  Student Action Plan Against Bullying
  Download Spanish Translation | Download Somali Translation | Download Hmong Translation

  Parent and Educator Guide to Using the Student Action Plan Against Bullying
  Download Spanish Translation | Download Somali Translation | Download Hmong Translation

  Are you an educator working with a student who reported bullying, a parent looking for ways to help your child respond to a situation, or a student who wants to take action against bullying, but aren't sure where to start? The Student Action Plan Against Bullying is designed for youth to complete, with or without an adult, to help them think through a difficult situation and determine steps to change what is happening to them or someone else. Whether someone is the target of bullying, a witness, or the person who bullies, this plan, along with the guide for adults using it with youth, can help guide potential responses and action-based solutions.

• Common Views and Myths about Bullying

  In spite of the significant impact that bullying can have on a target, it often continues to be viewed as acceptable behavior. There are many misperceptions that adults may have about bullying, all of which can lead to minimizing the behavior. Learn more about responses such as “boys will be boys” or “it’s only teasing.”

• Drama: Is It Happening to You?

  Drama. Bullying. Teasing. Harassment. No matter what you call it, it hurts. If you’re pushed, hit, or your things are ripped off or trashed, it can hurt physically. If you’re ignored by friends or cruel things are posted about you online, it can hurt emotionally. If it happens to you, you’ve probably asked yourself, “Why me?” You know how painful it is to be treated this way. So seriously, what can you do? A lot! Learn how.

• Elementary School Student - If You See Bullying

  A visually friendly, age appropriate handout for early learners, or for parents to use when talking with their child, with tips about what to do if they witness bullying.

• Elementary School Students - Bullying 101: The Club Crew’s Guide to Bullying Prevention

  A visually friendly, age appropriate 16-page colorful guide for early learners. The guide provides helpful information to use when talking with children about what bullying is and isn’t, the roles of students, and tips on what students can do to address bullying situations.

• Elementary School Students - If You Are a Target (Of Bullying)

  A visually friendly, age appropriate handout for early learners, or for parents to use when talking with their child, with tips about what to do if they are being bullied.

• Elementary School Students - If You Are Bullying

  A visually friendly, age appropriate handout for early learners, or for parents to use when talking with their child, with tips about what to do if they exhibiting bullying behavior.

• Help Your Child Recognize the Signs of Bullying

  Parents can prepare themselves to talk with their children by considering how they are going to handle their child’s questions and emotions. They can also decide what information they would like to give their child about bullying

• Middle and High School Students – Bullying 101: Guide for Middle and High School Students

  A visual, age appropriate 24-page guide with easy to understand information, which can be used in the classroom as a presentation and as a printed booklet. The guide provides the basics for helping youth understand what bullying is and isn’t, the roles of teens, and tips on what students can do to address bullying situations.

• Notifying the School About a Bullying Incident—Using a Template Letter

• Record Keeping and Bullying

  When a child is a target of bullying, parents need to document the events and develop a record (or history) of what is happening to their child. This record is useful when talking with school educators, law enforcement personnel, or other individuals who may need to assist parents in intervening against bullying. Data is important. Remember – if it is not in writing, it does not exist.

• Safety in the Online Community: A conversation with your 13-year-old about Facebook and Instagram

  In recognition of National Bullying Prevention Month, Facebook and Instagram partnered with PACER’s National Bullying Prevention Center to create the guide, “Safety in the Online Community: A conversation with your 13-year-old about Facebook and Instagram” to help parents talk with their teens about using Facebook and Instagram. The guide covers setting up a new account, safety tips, and commonly asked questions. The guide is also accompanied by discussion points for talking with your child and how to respond to harassing content. Downloadable guide and checklist for free.

• Student Action Plan Against Bullying

  Are you an educator working with a student being bullied, a parent looking for ways to help your child change their behavior, or a student who wants to take action against bullying, but isn’t sure what to do? As a student, bullying is something that impacts you, your peers, and your school – whether you’re the target of bullying, a witness, or the person who bullies. Bullying can end, but that won’t happen unless students, parents, and educators work together and take action. The first step is to create a plan that works for you and your situation. This student action plan is an opportunity for you – either on your own or with your parents and teachers – to develop a strategy to change what’s happening to you or someone else. It’s your chance to make a difference.
  Parent and Educator Guide to Using the Student Action Plan Against Bullying (May 2020)
  A helpful guide for adults on how to assist youth who are using the “Student Action Plan Against Bullying.” It’s important for adults to get involved and help youth, because in many cases bullying will not stop unless a supportive and caring adult is involved. BP-37

• What if Your Child is the One Showing Bullying Behavior?

  The word “bullying” often conjures up an image of a schoolyard scene, with a big, intimidating student towering over a small, cowering child. That’s just one face of bullying—and of children who bully. Another face of a bully might be…that of your child. Surprised? Many parents are. Often they have no idea that their child is harassing other children. Yet knowing the facts—and acting to change the situation—is vitally important in making the future safer for your child and all children.

Students With Disabilities

• Notifying the School About Bullying – Using a Template Letter (View as a handout)

  Parents should contact school staff each time their child informs them that he or she has been bullied.  PACER Center has created template letters that parents may use as a guide for writing a letter to their child’s school.  These letters contain standard language and “fill in the blank” spaces so the letter can be customized for your child’s situation.

  • When the bullying is based on the child's disability, federal laws can also apply under Section 504, Individuals with Disabilities Act (IDEA) and Americans with Disabilities Act Amendments Act of 2008(ADAAA).
  • Version for a Student with a 504 Plan (Word Doc | Pdf)
  • Version for a Student with an IEP Plan (Word Doc | Pdf)

  Data is important.  Remember, if it is not in writing, it does not exist.  Please be sure to keep a copy of the letter(s) for your records.  These records can help parents keep a concise, accurate timeline of events. These sample letters are general in nature in order to serve all potential users.

  Please contact PACER’s National Bullying Prevention Center for more specific guidance regarding your particular circumstances.

• Students with Disabilities and Bullying: Top five things for parents, educators and students to know

  This handout provides an overview of important facts for parents, educators and students to know about students with disabilities and bullying.

• Telling Classmates About Your Child's Disability May Foster Acceptance

  One of the best ways to teach children about a disability is to talk to them at school. For many families, presenting at school is an annual event. Sometimes, an IEP team writes it into a child’s Individualized Education Program (IEP) document.

• The IEP and Bullying

  Students with disabilities who are eligible for special education under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) will have an Individualized Education Program (IEP). The IEP can be a helpful tool in a bullying prevention plan.

• Use Positive Strategies to Protect Your Child with Disabilities from Bullying

  While any child can be a target of bullying, children with disabilities can be especially vulnerable. Although few studies exist concerning children with disabilities and bullying in the United States, the studies available indicate an increased risk for children with special needs. Parents can help protect their children with disabilities from bullying and its devastating effects if they promote effective strategies such as PACER’s Peer Advocacy Program, use the Individualized Education Program (IEP) as a tool, work with the school, and know their child’s rights under the law.

• Bullying and Disability Harassment in the Workplace: What Youth Should Know

  This InfoBrief was developed by PACER Center in partnership with the National Collaborative on Workforce and Disability for Youth. The InfoBrief is designed to help youth, including youth with disabilities, recognize signs of bullying in the workplace. It offers examples of bullying situations at work and strategies to help address the issue. Much is understood about the negative consequences of bullying at school, but youth should also be made aware that bullying does not always end at school and is often encountered at work.

Articles by PACER’s NBPC Staff

• 5 Things You Should Know About Cyberbullying
  While today’s technology provides young people with new and meaningful ways to connect and communicate, it also presents new challenges. This article explore the rise of cyberbullying, the use of technology to bully. Published by Family Online Safety Institute (FOSI), December 2019.

• 5 Ways to Prevent Bullying in the Classroom
  An article with tips to prevent bullying in the classroom, and featuring resources of PACER’s National Bullying Prevention Center. Published by PBS Teacher’s Lounge.

• Cyberbullying Starts Earlier Than You Might Think — Here’s How to Protect Your Child Now
  With kids now owning smartphones as young as age 6, knowing the basics of cyber safety is key..

• What Every Parent Needs to Know About Protecting Their Child from Cyberbullying
  Bullying behavior has been around forever, but cyberbullying presents new challenges – and kids today are the first to experience them.

• When Friends Are The Ones Doing the Bullying
  Sometimes bullying behavior comes from the last person you would expect. This article looks at what parents can do when their child's friend goes from friend to "frenemy."

• Preventing bullying of students with disabilities: Four things parents and educators should know
  Did you know that a student with a disability is two to three times more likely to be bullied? Bullying can affect a student’s physical and emotional health, and it can interfere with a student’s right to receive an education. Posted to StopBullying.gov blog on October 17, 2016.

• Helping Your Child Understand Cyberbullying
  It was just a generation ago that kids and teens were asking their parents for a phone line in their room so they could easily and privately connect with more friends. Today, a student’s desire to connect with friends has not changed, but the options for doing so have grown tremendously. While young people’s access to technology has evolved over the years, so has the way we communicate with children about online safety and cyberbullying. Posted to Spring 2017 edition of Our Children, the National PTA Magazine.

• Bullying Affects All of Our Kids, Even If They Aren't the Target
  Bullying affects everyone involved. Whether the child is the target, a witness, or the person who bullies, the end result is that everyone feels less safe. Children aren’t responsible for resolving a bullying situation, but their opinions about how to proceed should be encouraged and respected.

• Speaking Up About Being Bullied Isn't "Tattling"
  Many children who are bullied don’t report it. Younger children often don’t recognize bullying behaviors, and may be afraid they’ll be called a tattletale, or worse, if they tell an adult. It’s especially important to talk openly with your young child about bullying behavior, and to explain the difference between tattling and telling.

• What If Your Child Is the One Doing the Bullying?
  The word “bullying” often evokes a schoolyard scene, with a big, intimidating student towering over a small, cowering child. However, that’s just one of the many faces of children who bully. Another face of someone who bullies might be that of your own child. Surprised? Many parents are. They often have no idea that their child is bullying other children. Recognizing the different situations in which bullying can occur – and acting to change the behavior – is vitally important in making the future safer for your child and all children.