Creating an in-school Pink Shirt Day with lasting impact is tough. Yet, the day does offer the opportunity to warm up a school’s social climate by paying attention to how we treat one another.

The most effective way to combat bullying is from the inside – through student input and leadership. When adults tell kids what to do, or how to behave with one another, it doesn’t always work. For Pink Shirt Day events to reduce bullying a focus must be placed on relationship building and student-led initiatives.

The difference between teasing, everyday conflict, and bullying:

• Teasing is fun (when fun is had by all) and occurs between people of equal power
• Conflict is a passionate debate and/or disagreement between two people of equal power
• bullying is to intentionally hurt someone repeatedly – where one person is clearly more powerful than the other

Bullying is a relationship issue

We all come from homes where people express themselves in unique ways (or, where we don’t always feel comfortable sharing our thoughts or feelings). Paying attention to these habits of communication can help the family improve their relationships. When we focus on how we share, and the actual words we use, we develop an understanding of how we may be received (or misread) by others.  This work is not easy – but as relationships are what fuels our overall wellbeing – it’s well worth it!

Learn to read body language.

A large percentage of what we communicate occurs without words. The way we stand, walk, or approach others communicates our thoughts and feelings. If we are insecure, it shows. If we think we’re better than others, it shows.  Many young people are completely unaware of the story their bodies tell.

Compassion and empathy reduce bullying.

Without being judgmental, we have to show (and not just tell) students how much happier they can be when they are more empathetic with others. One message worth sharing is how much better it feels to be kind rather than hateful toward others. If your child is a natural leader, then encourage them to use their powers for good!

Let’s be clear – wearing a pink shirt, once a year, will not make us kinder. But, placing a mirror up to our community so that we can understand how our actions affect others can be powerful.  This year Meadowridge is hosting two custom Pink Shirt Day events with students showing where community members may hurt others (sometimes unintentionally), and what we can all do to improve our relationships with one another moving forward.