Every October, schools across the country recognize National Bullying Prevention Month, a time dedicated to raising awareness, fostering empathy, and taking a stand against bullying in all its forms. While important conversations about respect and safety take place in many classrooms, one critical lesson often gets overlooked: how to empower students not just not to bully, but to actively take positive action when they witness bullying.
It’s the difference between being a bystander—someone who sees bullying and does nothing, and being an upstander—someone who steps in, speaks up, or finds a safe way to support others. Teaching kids to become upstanders helps create a culture of compassion and inclusion in schools.
Why Upstanders Matter
Studies show that bullying can be reduced significantly when peers intervene. In fact, research shows that when students step in, bullying stops within 10 seconds more than half the time. But many students don’t act—not because they agree with the bullying—but because they’re afraid, unsure of what to do, or don’t realize how much power they actually have.
That’s why schools must go beyond basic “don’t be a bully” messages and also teach specific, age-appropriate skills for positive peer intervention. When students know how to help safely and respectfully, they’re more likely to take action, which can change school culture from the inside out.
Creating Upstanders in the Classroom
So, how do we help students shift from silence to support? It starts with four essential ideas:
1. Build Empathy Through Stories and Connection. Help students understand how bullying feels and how it impacts others. Stories, role-plays, and real-life examples can help students put themselves in someone else’s shoes and recognize the emotional consequences of hurtful behavior.2. Teach Concrete Strategies for Taking Action. Students often want to help but don’t know how. Role-play different scenarios and model what it looks like to:
• Stand beside someone who’s being excluded
• Distract a bully or redirect attention
• Report the incident to a trusted adult
• Privately check on someone after an incident
3. Encourage Speaking Up. Reinforce that speaking up doesn’t always mean confrontation; it can be as simple as offering kindness, connection, and support.
4. Celebrate Kindness, Not Just Rule-Following. Recognize students who show compassion and encourage peer leadership. Whether it’s holding the door for someone, including a classmate at lunch, or standing up to teasing, schools should actively celebrate these behaviors.
How Schools Can Take Action
If you’re a teacher, school administrator, or PTA leader looking to build a safer and more compassionate school environment this fall, here’s a simple three-step plan:
1. Plan a Kindness Challenge or Campaign. Reinforce positive action with school-wide kindness challenges, bulletin boards, or spirit days. Encourage students to keep the kindness going all month long.
2. Engage Parents and Staff. Share strategies from the assembly with families. Encourage conversations at home about how to support friends and respond to bullying. Offer teachers additional resources and classroom follow-ups to deepen the impact.
3. Schedule an Anti-Bullying Assembly. October is the perfect time to bring an anti-bullying assembly to your school. Aligning a bullying-prevention program with National Bullying Prevention Month helps reinforce schoolwide initiatives and gives teachers a springboard for deeper conversations in the classroom.
Plus, kindness education isn’t just about bullying—it connects to academic performance, classroom behavior, and long-term emotional well-being. When students feel safe, supported, and connected, they are better learners, better friends, and better members of their communities.
Enter: Quest for Kindness by Mobile Ed Productions
One of the best tools available to schools looking to promote kindness and build upstanders is the Quest for Kindness assembly from Mobile Ed Productions.
This engaging, interactive in-school program brings powerful character-building concepts to life. Designed for elementary and middle school students, Quest for Kindness teaches students to:
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- Recognize bullying behavior
- Understand the difference between bystanders and upstanders
- Practice real-world strategies to respond with empathy and courage
- Use kindness as a tool for personal and community growth
- Recognize bullying behavior
Through multimedia storytelling, student participation, and memorable characters, this assembly isn’t just informative—it’s empowering. Kids leave inspired and equipped to best their best selves and create a kind community in their own schools and social circles.
Final Thought: The Power of One
Becoming an upstander doesn’t require grand gestures—it starts with one kind word, one act of inclusion, one student deciding that they can make a difference. With the right tools and encouragement, our students can be those difference-makers. This National Bullying Prevention Month, let’s give them that opportunity.
Unlock Empathy with the Key to Kindness
Mobile Ed’s Quest for Kindness program takes students on a character-building journey where they face their fears and triumph over obstacles together. This interactive program helps equip students with tools to manage stress, build social skills, and expand their emotional intelligence. These skills help students take actionable steps when navigating difficult situations and complex emotions. This National Bullying Prevention Month, consider taking your class on a Quest for Kindness to help prevent bullying before it starts. Click below to explore how to take your students on an adventure to find the key to kindness!
