by Irene van der Zande, Kidpower Founder and Executive Director | Sep 28, 2011
Once again, the news is filled with the tragic story of a teen suicide from bullying – this time of 14-year-old Jamey Rodemeyer who lost hope after being bullied repeatedly and took his life. How does something like this happen? And, what can we do to prevent another tragedy? Progress is being made, but the best anti-bullying laws, policies, and programs in the world won’t work if adults don’t notice and intervene in the moment when bullying occurs – and if kids don’t have skills for managing their emotional triggers, staying in charge of what they say and do, and being persistent in getting help.
by Irene van der Zande, Kidpower Founder and Executive Director | Aug 31, 2011
“SQUAWK! SQAWK!” One afternoon last week, Poelleke, an Ameraucana hen who faithfully lays an egg a day, suddenly sounded the alarm by raising a ruckus. Her humans came running out of their house to see a bobcat that had climbed inside their six-foot wire fence, stalking Poelleke and the nine younger hens.
by Irene van der Zande, Kidpower Founder and Executive Director | Aug 26, 2011
Bullying as True Drama, a New York Times Op-Ed article by social science researchers Danah Boyd and Alice Marwik, describes what needs to change in order to make anti-bullying programs more effective in order to prevent tragedies like the suicide of 14-year-old Jamey Rodemeyer.
by Irene van der Zande, Kidpower Founder and Executive Director | Aug 10, 2011
Note: This post includes a preview excerpt from our newest edition of The Kidpower Book for Caring Adults: Personal Safety, Self-Protection, Confidence, and Advocacy for Young People, by Kidpower founder and executive director, Irene van der Zande, which will be released October 2011. Check out the full excerpt, which is available in our free online library of […]
by Irene van der Zande, Kidpower Founder and Executive Director | Jul 28, 2011
Dr. Amy Tiemann, Kidpower North Carolina Center Director and my co-author on our new book project, Doing Right by Our Kids, points out that the public safety message “If you see something, say something” is equally relevant for child safety.