Every year, new parents face the stress of sending their kids to middleor high school. Many worry about bullying and rude behavior. These are realproblems, but parents are also finding ways to tackle them and buildunderstanding at school.

A Standout Story: The Power of Speaking Up

Ana, a mom from Georgia, saw her daughter withdraw after moving up tomiddle school. Ana contacted teachers right away and set up a meeting. She kepttalking, even when it was hard. Her daughter’s teachers listened, and theschool offered help. That open talk led to a change. The teacher added socialtime during lunch and created chances for quieter kids to join in. Small stepsmade a real difference for Ana’s family.

One Dad’s Approach: Teach Kindness at Home

Chris, a father from Ohio, taught his son how to stand up for others andshow simple kindness. They made a plan: if his son saw bullying, he wouldsupport the target by sitting with them or sharing a kind word. Chris said itdid not solve every problem, but it showed his son how to act when people hurtother people.

Practical Tips from Parents:

• Listen as soon as your child brings up school problems.
• Call or email teachers to ask how conflicts get handled.
• Watch for mood changes or lost interest in school.
• Talk with your child about safe ways to speak up or get an adult involved.
• Praise kind acts at home so your child learns by example.

Big Idea: Kindness Grows When Parents Speak Out

Parents say it helps to push for clear rules and open talk at school.Some organize kindness clubs or run volunteer drives. Others share tips inparent groups or team up with school counselors for better support.

This Month’s Challenge:

Ask your child or their friends one thing that could make school feelsafer. Try bringing that idea to your school’s parent group or to a teacher.Small steps can make a big change.

Thank you for caring about this issue. Each story and every parent’s effort makes a better place for kids to grow and learn. We at Protect Our Children Project believe that our children are our most valuable assett and they are not for sale.

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