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Cheer Moms And Dads
Call For Help
1-800-273-8255
HELPING SOMEONE WHO IS BEING BULLIED
As a parent, you may suspect your child is being bullied. If you are not quite sure, review these common signs to help you recognize if bullying is occurring. Your child may:
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Come home with torn, damaged, or missing pieces of clothing, books, or other belongings
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Have unexplained cuts, bruises, and scratches from fighting
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Have few, if any, friends with whom he or she spends time
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Seem afraid of going to school, walking to and from school, riding the school bus, or taking part in organized activities with peers (such as clubs or sports)
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Take a long, “illogical” route when walking to or from school
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Lose interest in school work or suddenly begin to do poorly in school
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Appear sad, moody, teary, or depressed when he or she comes home
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Complain frequently of headaches, stomachaches, or other physical problems
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Have trouble sleeping or frequent bad dreams
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Experience a loss of appetite
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Appear anxious and suffer from low self-esteem
Help your child deal with bullying
Talking to teachers, administrators, and staff.
Take advantage of the following resources (files are downloadable PDFs):
BULLYING-PREVENTION IN CHEERLEADING
Soon after launching in 2011, CheerMAD got involved in bullying prevention after eight young male cheerleaders committed suicide in six months. These young men, ages 7 to 18, were literally bullied to death, bullied for doing what they loved: cheerleading. They committed suicide because they just wanted the pain to stop and saw no other way out.
Bullying Prevention became CheerMAD's mission and national campaigns followed (see below)
In 2013, CheerMAD founder Lisa D. Welsh was invited to Washington D.C. and speak with U.S. Congressmen James P. McGovern, D-Massachusetts and Daniel Davies, D-Illinois on Capitol Hill about the need for concise Federal Civil Rights law that would make bullying illegal. Efforts continue with the cheer industry leading the way for national reform.
Most recently, CheerMAD joined parents, athletes, and coaches in the first Male Cheerleading Forum in Dallas, Texas which sparked new momentum to the serious widespread problems of bullying.
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How to talk with educators at your child’s school about bullying - Get advice on how to communicate with teachers and other leaders at your child’s school if you’re dealing with bullying.
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Tips for parents: What to do if your child is being bullied - Get tips for supporting your child through this very painful experience. SPANISH VERSION
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Tips for parents: What to do if your child bullies others. If your child bullies others at school, it needs to stop. Find out what you can do at home. SPANISH VERSION
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Tips for parents: What to do if your child witnesses bullying: Empower your child to take positive action in bullying situations and help prevent further bullying. SPANISH VERSION
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What can parents do to prevent and address cyber-bullying? Protect your child from indirect forms of bullying that use text messaging, Web sites, and cell phones.
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Advocate for a bullying prevention program at your school: You can play a very important role in advocating for a bullying prevention program at your child’s school.
When the problem
is at school:
RIP Jeffrey P. Fehr
Jeffrey P. Fehr, a member of California POWER Allstar’s Medium Coed Level 5 team, took his own life on New Year’s after what was reported as being bullied. Sadly, Jeff chose a permanent solution to a temporary feeling.
RECOMMENDED SITES
National Suicide Prevention Hotline
FACEBOOK PAGES
National Suicide Prevention Hotline
Student/Athletes Anti-Bullying
BULLY FREE ZONE 975
Among the work conducted by CheerMAD was an invitation to the United States Capitol to meet with Representatives in Congress to share cheer parents’ support of a federal anti-bulling bill: House Bill 975
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