K-6th Graders Paws for CHANGE to Stop Bullying

(Snickers AKA "The Bully Buster" giving some Pet Therapy before the workshops!)

We had a great day in Flint at the Richfield Public School Academy on Friday! Lloyd Dockham (below in center), the Social Worker, as well as many other teachers and helpers, worked very hard along side us to put this anti-bullying rally together very quickly. And all the hard work paid off!

Students were so excited, very eager to participate, and upbeat and motivated throughout the whole presentation.

(pictured below 4th-6th graders)

(below K-3rd graders)

K-3 rd Graders Interact (below) with Puppets to display how we are all different, but yet alike. Two of the TAZ puppets look like identical twins, but if you look closely you can tell their eyes and tongue are just a little bit different. We teach kids to look for the likenesses, not the differences in others. 

Acceptance is Key to conquering bullying!

A very special 4th Grader, Alaina Griffith (pictured below), actually won these free anti-bullying workshops for her school, by entering a contest we had over the summer, sponsored by Big John Steak & Onion. Way to go Alaina!



These students (below) demonstrated how spreading rumors, giving someone the silent treatment, and/or whispering in front of others is really "social bullying" and can be hurtful. Words can heal or words can kill--please choose your words carefully!

These 4th-6th grade students (pictured below) participated in a group demonstration to prove that we may all look somewhat different, but we are more alike than we are different, and best of all, no matter what little differences we do have, we have the same value and worth!

These boys put on a little skit to demonstrate how you can bully someone by being a bystander or someone who just walks away.

This girl was embarrassed about making a silly face in front of everyone. We demonstrated how it would be even more embarrassing if I had taken a picture of her and sent it to all her friends, they sent it to all their friends, and pretty soon the whole world would know. We talked about Internet & Cell Phone Bullying, not to share personal information with others. 80% of cyber bullies think it's funny to hurt someone online! We share how facebook is really FAKEBOOK. Anyone can pretend to be any age, any sex, and can hurt us!

Students played an interactive game of Who Wants to Take The Bully Down to display what four options they each have in a bullying situation. What would you do? Fight Back, Call 9-1-1, Ask For Help, or Run Away... 

Students (below) also demonstrated how to "get rid of labels" that other people put on them. They are laughing at all the things that were posted on each others backs. But when this is done in real life, these labels are like daggers piercing the very heart and the mind of each child!

This was our bully today in a game of tug o war. Her against 6 others. Who do you think won? You do the math! It says that 1 out of 7 students are the bully. We teach the six others a more positive way to defeat the bully! We'd love to come to your school and next event to show you. 

Too many schools and communities are letting the bullies win! No! Let's teach kids how to defeat bullying for good!

Our formerly abuse, rescue dog, Snickers, AKA "The Bully Buster" sniffed out a bully, our other dog, Baby Ruth, (below), AKA "THE BULLY" (our worst dog). However, she has Changed her bullying behaviors. I was a bully too and changed. So we share our stories, and how bullying is simply a behavior not who a person is, and that anyone can change with the right help. This empowers all students (whether they are targets/victims, bystanders, or bullies) to make a change and be different--to be a Bully Buster!

 

Baby's outfit (below) reads "PAWS FOR CHANGE!"

Students all over the gym gave the "thumbs up" sign as a statement to say that they were going to change their actions and be the change in their school and community to stop bullying.

Thumbs up to you Richfield Public School Academy in Flint, Michigan, for making the Change and Being the Change to Stop Bullying! 

For more information on bringing the CHANGE to your school, upcoming event, church, or community, please contact Lisa Freeman or check out her website @ AbuseBites.com 

Written by: Lisa Freeman, Michigan Bully Expert

Lifelong Abuse Survivor & Advocate

CEO & Founder of Abuse Bites & A Time to Heal

The Healing Projects Specialist for the Bully Police USA

Award-Winning Author

AKC Dog Trainer & Certified Pet Therapist

Youth Anti-Bullying Rally Jackson, Missouri

We had an amazing time in Jackson, Missouri this week at the the Rock International Ministries Church! Thank you Pastor Derrick Beasley for inviting us to come. I had my "I Love Being Me" shirt on that I found at Penney's right before the trip--it was an amazing message on top of everything else!

We started the program off with a Youtube video of Jeremiah singing, since he was still in the hospital and couldn't be with us. 

Jeremiah is battling Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and Depression related to bullying. Bullying is tragic, and can have tragic results. That's why we are passionate about going wherever the door opens to educate and bring about the safety and prevention that is needed to change hearts and save lives.

As you can see above, a nice group of kids and adults came out to the Anti-Bullying Rally. There was a conflicting event going on in the community for back to school, so sadly many kids missed out because they had to attend this other event or they would not have gotten the school supplies they needed. Still we had a great time!

We had so much fun interacting, playing games, and doing demonstrations. Below we are playing our peer pressure and self abuse games. Pastor Derrick is assisting in the first game. My hubby, John, was assisting in the second one.

But we also got serious--down to business--and watched a big CHANGE take place! This beautiful little girl that was labeled the bullying in one of our demonstrations, kept the tag on and labeled herself the "bully".

But at the end of the program she crumpled up the bully label and threw it away! 

I said, "What, you don't want to be a bully no more?" She said, "No!"

Nearly everyone came forward when we had our CHANGE CHALLENGE, only about 4-5 kids stayed in their seats. All the others wanted to make a change in their own lives and hearts so they could go out and be the change for others and stop abuse, bullying and violence!

Another great thing that happened, this was our SIGNING of the Memory Quilt. I'm so thrilled and honored that the FIRST HEART was signed by Pastor Derrick Beasley, a young man that grew up in our neighborhood, who has always been like a son to me, and now is a Youth Pastor at Rock International Ministries and is a fine preacher and teacher! He has such a love and passion for kids and is raising three children that aren't even his own, right now! I couldn't be more proud!

We were blessed so much with not only really nice hotel accommodations, but also took up a love offering, and even took us out for a delicious lunch. We met Pastor White and his lovely first lady. We were able to share our heart and our mission, and they are hoping to bring us back to do a community wide event with some schools! YAY!

Struggling With Bullying Issues?

Are you struggling with bullying issues in your home, school, or community?

Have you tried various anti-bullying workshops and strategies, but still don't seem to be getting anywhere with students or parents?

Why don't you let us help!

*We're Experienced: We are all abuse survivors who have been both the bully and bullied throughout life. We've shared our workshops in various schools, churches, and work places all over Michigan.

*We're Educated & Endorsed: We founded Abuse Bites Corp. from the ground up in 2005 (put together workshops for pre-school, children, teens and even adults), currently we work as the Healing Projects Specialist for the Bully Police USA, and host a blog talk radio show "Bullying Matters" for Dreamcatchers for Abused Children.

*We're Empathetic: We understand all sides of bullying and teach others empathy, something's that lacking these days in homes, schools, and communities.

*We're Enthusiastic & Empowering: We're passionate about this anti-bullying message and empower and motivate others to Be The CHANGE they want to see in others. Our mission is to CHANGE HEARTS & SAVE LIVES in memory of our son, Brian, who passed away last year. He was bullied all his life. He lived and died forgiving his bullies.

*We're Effective: We offer healing workshops for all those who are affected by bullying and abuse: (victims, bystanders, the ones with bully behaviors as well as their families, and even staff). Many wounded hurting people are walking around. They are like time bombs waiting to go off. If their feelings and emotions aren't properly dealt with we might witness the next Columbine or worse. Hurt people, hurt people. Healed people, heal people.

*We're NOT Expensive: We're a 501 (c) 3 non-profit organization that is passionate about the cause, not a paycheck! We know schools are struggling. We know everyone is struggling. That is why we are willing to work within the means of any reasonable budget. We are currently trying to raise funds for gas so we can offer low-income schools and communities FREE WORKSHOPS.

Too many times, people are simply putting a band aid on bullying. They offer help for the victim or target while putting the bully (those demonstrating bullying behaviors) in anger management classes. Bullying is not about anger; it's about power and control. And it's time the schools, we as parents, and entire communities realize this and take back the control from those with bullying behaviors, so we can have more time to focus on what's really important--education and empowering our young people and families to strive toward a better, safer future.

We'd love to send you more information, outlines of our workshops, or we'd even be willing to come to a meeting and share our program with your teachers and principals if you'd like. So please let us know how we can help you and your staff bring healing to your community! Thank you for your time. We look forward to hearing from you soon.

Lisa Freeman, CEO Abuse Bites

Healing Projects Specialist, Bully Police USA

Email Us @ abusebites@gmail.com

Visite Us @ http://www.abusebites.com

Help Kids Stop Bullying

160,000 kids miss school every day for fear of bullying

1 teen dies every 1/2 hour in the USA from bullying/bullycide

That's why AbuseBites.com CEO Lisa Freeman offers educational workshops to raise awareness, and teach safety, prevention, and healing methods to stop bullying, abuse and violence. Her entire family was bullied in some form, one son nearly bullied to death.

By offering their real life stories of survival along with statistics, and some fun, interactive games, kids, teens, and even adults learn at their level how to defeat the bully without violence, work together as a community, and have a great time doing it!

We don't just put a band-aid on bullying we give kids, parents, educators and everyone everything they need to bring about safer schools, safer kids, and safer families!

Contact Lisa Freeman today @ 989-729-2124 or email @ abusebites@gmail.com