Olweus Bullying Prevention Program
Southeast Polk began implementing the Olweus Bullying Prevention Program in grades K-8 in 2016-17. Willowbrook staff received training on how to prevent, recognize, and intervene in bullying situations. We teach students a common definition of bullying, four anti-bullying rules, and what to do if someone is being bullied. Each class also holds a weekly class meeting to build positive peer relations, solve problems, and learn about bullying prevention.
What is the Olweus Bullying Prevention Program?
The Olweus Bullying Prevention Program (OBPP) prevents or reduces bullying in elementary, middle, and junior high schools (with students ages five to fifteen). OBPP is not a curriculum, but a program that deals with bullying at the schoolwide, classroom, individual, and community levels.
The Olweus Bullying Prevention Program (OBPP) prevents or reduces bullying in elementary, middle, and junior high schools (with students ages five to fifteen). OBPP is not a curriculum, but a program that deals with bullying at the schoolwide, classroom, individual, and community levels.
What is bullying?
Bullying is when someone repeatedly and on purpose says or does mean or hurtful things to another person who has a hard time defending himself or herself.
Bullying is when someone repeatedly and on purpose says or does mean or hurtful things to another person who has a hard time defending himself or herself.
What Can I Do if I Think My Child is Being Bullied?
- Share your concerns with your child’s teacher, counselor, and/or principal
- Talk with your child.
- Try to find out more about your child’s school life.
- Encourage your child to spend time with friendly students in his or her class.
- Help your child meet new friends outside of school.
- Teach your child safety strategies, such as how to seek help from an adult.
- If you and your child need additional help, talk with a school counselor and/or mental health professional.
What Can I Do if My Child Is Bullying Others?
- Make it clear to your child that you take bullying seriously and that bullying is not ok
- Develop clear rules for your child’s behavior.
- Praise your child when he/she follows the rules
- Use non-physical and logical consequences when rules are broken (such as losing a privilege)
- Praise your child when he/she follows the rules
- Spend time with your child and carefully supervise his/her activities.
- Get your child involved in positive activities and with positive friends.
- Help your child meet new friends outside of school.
- Share your concerns with your child’s teacher, counselor, and/or principal.
- If you and your child need additional help, talk with a school counselor and/or mental health professional.
How to Talk to Your Child About Bullying
- I’m interested in your thoughts and feelings about bullying. What does the word “bullying” mean to you?
- Do you ever see students at your school being bullied by others? How do you feel?
- What do you usually do when you see bullying going on?
- Have you ever tried to help someone who was being bullied? What happened? What do you think you can do if it happens again?
- Have you ever called another person names? Do you think that is bullying?
- Do you or your friends ever leave other students out of activities?
- Is your school doing special things to try to prevent bullying? Tell me about them.