Not all heroes have to be aliens with a list of super powers. Some tackle everyday problems such as the reality of bullying. The Adventures of Rubberkid is a free Adobe Flash game looking to raise awareness about how terrible bullying can be. Rubberkid is a regular kid who was tired of being bullied. To stand up to the bullies, Rubberkid created a suit of rubber bands to bounce the insults they hurl right back at them.

The goal of the game is to show the player the consequences of bullying. The levels can be selected in any order and each focuses on helping a particular child (or children). Once the player helps those in need, they are shown the effects bullying can have.  The results show what would have happened to the child had the bullies continued, but they also give the player hope by showing what each accomplishes in their life since you stood up for them.

The game is great tool for children and adults of all ages and has the following features:

• Nine levels of gameplay, featuring three different game types.
• Players can print out a certificate pledge as reminder to not bully others, but to also speak up when others are bullied. The certificate will even have the player’s name on it.
• Those interested can pay what they want for Rubberkid, including nothing at all. This allows schools and libraries easy access to this fun and educational program.
• Story segments for each character allow the player to see the effects of bullying first-hand. Seeing what each character accomplishes will encourage the player to speak up when they or someone else is being bullied.
• Vivid, colorful graphics and characters from The Critterverse.

In order to extend the reach of the game as far as possible, The Adventures of Rubberkid current has an active Kickstarter campaign.  With the funding, the game will be translated into Spanish and French, feature cyber bullying content, be supplemented with additional materials such as a children’s book or a comic book and more. The Adventures of Rubberkid Kickstarter can be found here.

Help support this educational game and earn some perks as well.

The game is currently a work in progress, but anyone is able to access an incomplete build to sample the game. The Adventures of Rubberkid demo can be accessed at here.

The article “The Adventures of Rubberkid” Tackle The Reality of Bullying appeared first on The Toonari Post - News, Powered by the People!.

New York, U.S.A. -Bullying has become a hot topic in the U.S., hitting a cultural nerve as evidenced by the buzz surrounding the recent release of a documentary called “Bully” as well as a book entitled The Bully Society: School Shootings and the Crisis of Bullying in America’s Schools (NYU Press)”.

Bullying is a major cause of stress and can leave anyone feeling hurt, angry, frightened, and even depressed. By learning about why some people bully and why others are bullied, you can help yourself or a loved one cope with bullying, and develop the resilience and self-confidence to overcome such trauma and have high esteem and channel your life to be in a harmonious place.

What drives a person to torment someone else? To make another’s life intolerable, until the bullied, dreading the thought of one more vicious attack can only wonder: When will it end?  Will it ever end?  And how will I survive?

Bullying and stress in the workplace

Chances are if you work with others, you’ll be bullied at some point in your career. In the U.S., where the practice is being studied, an estimated 37% of workers, or about 54 million people, have been bullied at the office, or repeatedly mistreated in a health-harming way, according to a 2007 Zogby International survey. The percentage balloons to 49% of workers, 71.5 million people, when witnesses are included.

While hard to quantify, workplace bullying is clearly costly for employees as well as employers.

About 45% of individuals targeted by bullies at work suffer stress-related health problems, according to the Zogby survey. That could include cardiovascular problems, an impaired immune system, debilitating anxiety and even post-traumatic stress disorder, says Gary Namie director of the Workplace Bullying Institute and president of Work Doctor, a consulting firm that specializes in correcting and preventing workplace bullying.

Most of our stress doesn’t come from the work itself, but instead the people with whom we are involved. Create an awareness of how other people are making you feel, and if they aren’t treating you right then stand up for yourself or seek help.

Bullying and cyber-bullying in schools

Research shows that about 25% of kids in the United States experience bullying while even more of us are impacted by cyber-bullying. So what is bullying? Bullying is considered a repeated and intentional act of aggression where one or more people plan to harm or upset another person physically, verbally, or psychologically. While there are many reasons why bullies may be targeting you, the main reasons are usually your physical appearance or social standing within your peer group.

Bullying is repeated aggressive behavior that can be physical, verbal, or relational. Boys frequently bully using physical threats and actions, while girls are more likely to engage in verbal or relationship bullying. The results are similar in that victims of bullying are made to feel hurt, angry, afraid, helpless, hopeless, isolated, ashamed, and even guilty that the bullying is somehow their fault.

Victims’ physical health is likely to suffer, and they are at a greater risk of developing mental health problems such as depression, anxiety, low self-esteem, adult onset PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) and even death.  A recent study suggests found that up to 44% of suicides among 10- to 14-year-olds may be bullying-related. [2]

The most destructive aspect of bullying lies in its repetition. Bullies are often relentless, bullying over and over again for unforgiving amounts of time. Victims of bullying often live in constant fear of where and when the bully will strike next and to what extent they will attack.  This repetition has never been more visible what with our living in the era of technology and social media; cyber-bullying has made bullying even worse!

Bullying is often a learned behavior and many bullies can learn aggressive behavior at home. Research suggests that some kids and teens may become more aggressive by the amount of violent content the children are exposed to via TV, movies, or video games.  Also, parents often can set a bad example for their kids through their own bullying behavior toward one another; their own children are even complete strangers.

Parents dealing with a bullying child should first educate their child about bullying. Your child may have difficulty reading social signs or may not understand how hurtful their behavior can be. Foster empathy by encouraging your child to look at their actions from the victim’s perspective. Remind your child that bullying can have legal consequences.  Remember you are a model for your children. Kids learn from adults’ aggressive or mean-spirited behavior.

Paul Huljich, author of the forthcoming publication “Stress Pandemic” feels that stress plays a key factor in what can cause bullying.  “By managing stress, we can begin to tackle the heart of what often can lead to children bullying each other.”  Huljich states, “Teach your child positive ways to manage stress.

Your child’s bullying may be an attempt at relieving stress, or your own stress, anxiety, or worry may be creating an unstable home environment. Exercise, Diet and Stress Reduction techniques are just a few of the ways for both kids and adults alike to let off steam and relieve stress.”

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The Sioux City Journal newspaper made headlines of its own after it published a full, front page editorial in its April 22, 2012 Sunday edition decrying bullying. The editorial was published in response to the suicide of a victim of bullying. The 14 year-old high school student Kenneth Weishuhn—a fun kid by all accounts—was bullied not long after coming out to his friends as gay.

The Journal’s editorial staff was quick to point out that it feels that all of society plays a role in bullying. From teachers and other school staff, parents and other adults, the Journal staff suggested that many people and organizations take a passive role in stopping bullying. According to the editorial, the time has come for all adults to advocate for the victims of bullying.

Although anti-bulling statutes were adopted in Iowa in 2007, according to the article, “Iowa school districts, on average, reported less than 2 percent of their students had been bullied in any given year since the state passed its anti-bullying law in 2007.”

The editorial staff emphasized that schools are not the only places that bullying occurs and that eliminating bullying is not the sole responsibility of the school system to enforce anti-bullying standards. The piece calls on adults to take a more active role in ensuring that bullying will not be tolerated. The editorial suggests that parents monitor their children’s use of cell phones and the internet, watch the documentary “Bully,” and recognize the deeper meaning of the words they are using, and the words that are being spoken by those around them.

In keeping with the desire to be a strong advocate, the Journal staff said, “This is not a failure of one group of kids, one school, one town, one county or one geographic area. Rather, it exposes a fundamental flaw in our society, one that has deep-seated roots.”

Bullying is not only a problem in Iowa, but a problem faced by young people all across America. A 2008 study by researchers at Yale University suggests that the link between bullying and suicide is very strong. According to the study, victims of bullying are 2-9 times more likely to consider suicide.

According to the bully watchdog organization www.bullypolice.org, most American states have adopted anti-bullying statutes in response to episodes of suicide as a result of bullying. Punishments for violating anti-bullying statutes in various American states range in severity from counseling the bully and the victim to criminal prosecution.

Although not unprecedented, the use of the entire front page of the Sunday edition of the newspaper indicated the strong feelings that members of the Sioux City Journal staff have as community advocates. Coverage of this publication has made national headlines indicating that much of the American population is taking bullying very seriously. Subsequent reports indicate an overwhelmingly positive response to the front-page editorial not only by Sioux City residents, but also by readers all across America.

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A survey carried out by web security company Westcoastcloud for UK Safer Internet Day (Feb 7) reveals that although half of parents in Scotland have installed software to protect their children from accessing unsuitable content when they use desktop PCs and laptops in the home, only 1 in 4 has installed similar protection on the mobile phones, games consoles and television services their kids also use in the house.

Bill Strain, Director of Westcoastcloud, says: “Whilst it’s encouraging that fifty per cent of parents in Scotland are being more vigilant about the risks their children face when going online on a computer or laptop, many of them are still failing to recognise that in our increasingly mobile world, the same level of protection needs to be provided when their children are accessing the internet via their mobile phones, the television and while they’re gaming.”

David Wright from the UK Safer Internet Centre said: “While the internet is such an amazing resource, just like life it carries risk, not least for children, with cyber bullying and adult content. Surveys like this demonstrate that online safety is a real issue for parents and that parenting in the 21st century is very different to that compared to the 20th century.”

The survey questioned 500 parents with children between 5 and 16 years of age.

While 49% said they had installed parental controls (filtering and blocking software) on computers and laptops their children used in the house, only 24% had done the same on mobile phones used at home. When asked whether they’d activated parental controls on games consoles like the Xbox or PlayStation, only 27% said they had, while only 24% had activated parental controls on their Sky TV or Freeview boxes. Almost 1 in 10 had not installed any internet protection software at all.

When asked how they rated their knowledge of how to keep their children safe online 68% admitted they weren’t completely confident, with 25% confessing that their knowledge was poor.

Westcoastcloud’s Netintelligence is the only web security software to have the BSI Kitemark for Child Online Safety.

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Nancy Silberkleit, the seasoned anti-bullying and literacy advocate, is proud to announce the Strides To Stop Bullying Essay Event, a new anti-bullying initiative for 2012. This inspirational event, open to students across the country, encourages youth to share their true stories and insight to raise awareness and stop the harm that bullying can do.

Led by a panel including Former New York Governor David Paterson, Stan Davis of stopbullyingnow.com and Nancy Silberkleit, the contest will raise funds for the International Bullying Prevention Association. Selected youth will also have their story serve as the inspiration for a forthcoming educational, not-for-profit comic book written by Nancy Silberkleit. Selected essays may also be published anonymously in other ways.

Nancy Silberkleit, co-CEO of Archie Comics, is using her educational training and experience to inspire self-confidence and strength in children of all ages. The Strides To Stop Bullying Essay Event was conceived by Silberkleit as a way to create an inspired community while also furthering her philanthropic reach.

She is currently working on a series of educational comic book focusing on children’s issues such as bullying. She aims to share her words of strength and inspiration with today’s youth. She advises, “Never let anyone define who you are. You know who you are.”

The Strides To Stop Bullying Essay Event, open to all students across the country ages 8-18, will be open for submissions February 1st- May 1st. To enter, children must write a 250-word true essay on the topic of bullying. They may send their own true story about what made things better when they were bullied, or how they supported someone else who was bullied.

These essays will be used as the inspiration for one of Nancy Silberkleit’s upcoming educational comics. For the first 200 essays sent in, Nancy Silberkleit will donate $5 per essay to the International Bullying Prevention Association.

“Creating a school environment free of harassment and discrimination has been a long term goal of mine,” says Governor Paterson. “I’m proud to further align myself with causes such as this contest that encourage our youth to speak out and unite against bullying.”

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Sheniz Erkan (Left), an Australian schoolgirl from Melbourne, decided to take her own life, a week before her 15^th birthday after being bullied at school and on social networking sites. It has been reported that more than 14,000 people have already paid tribute to the late Cairnlea Soccer player, and several memorial videos have been uploaded on YouTube in her honor.

Her death shocked many. According to The Canberra Times, “Twenty-five per cent of all young people experience a mental health issue in any given year. Responses to cyber-bullying should focus on building resilience, protecting mental health and strengthening peer support networks.” Sheniz’s elder brother, Aykut Erkan, believes that his sister has been bullied for a while; he told Herald Sun that,

I think it was going on a long time. In her mind, in leaving us she might have thought she was taking the problem away from everyone. She never wanted to let anyone down and she never wanted to tell anyone about it because she didn’t want anyone to worry. She was so full of life, a real bundle of joy. No one remembers her in a bad way.

Aziz Behich, the Melbourne Heart defender, dedicated his match to her. The Heart players wore black armbands and observed a minute’s silence in her honor. Behich is a close family friend of Sheniz and was among the mourners at her Friday funeral. The defender told Sunday Herald Sun that, “She was a very good player with Cairnlea Soccer Club and a great Heart fan as well – she was at most of our home games.

We were very close family friends. Our parents have known each other for a long time and I want to dedicate the game to Sheniz and hopefully we can win.”

Even after Sheniz Erkan’s passing, people still continued to harass her. News sources reported that a group of haters have hacked into Sheniz’s Facebook account and posted disturbing messages on her Facebook tribute page of 27,000 fans. Her brother said, ”it is even more hurtful that after her death, she is still being bullied from beyond the grave.”

The Telegraph said, Sheniz called her best friend, Renay Sumercan, a few minutes before committing suicide and told her that she loved her dearly. Renay later revealed Sheniz’s last words and encouraged victims of bullying to speak up and ask for help when they still can.

Sheniz Erkan was laid to rest last Friday, family and friends prayed for her at the Sunshine Mosque, where Iman Esat Yapici started the funeral service in a traditional Islamic manner. In his sermon, he urged the mourners to forgive those who were indirectly involved in Sheniz’s death.

Image Courtesy of   https://www.facebook.com/pages/RIP-Sheniz-Erkan/337185602977594

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Cox is launching a multi-faceted anti-bullying public service campaign in response to the growing problem of youth bullying in Virginia. This program will reach parents and children, while providing tools needed to successfully cope with bullying. This effort is in coordination with the premiere of Cox Channel 11′s “Plugged-In: Breaking the Bully Culture” special.

The program will premiere on Sunday, November 20, at 8 p.m. Also, radio personalities from several radio stations in the Hampton Roads market are partnering with Cox to share important information on bullying. Nick Taylor and Tricia Harris Friddell from Z104; Chuck Doudand Mary Kathryn Wood from The Point, Teresa Baker from R&B-FM; and Jenna Kehoe from 2WD will appear in the television advertisements intended to raise awareness of the problem of bullying.

Also, free informational resource cards and “Take Charge! Stop the Bullying” wristbands will be available at all Cox Solutions Stores for kids and parents during this campaign. These materials address the warning signs of youth bullying and offer advice for kids on how to better deal with bullying situations and behaviors.

Gary McCollum, SVP & General Manager of Cox Communications said, “The statistics which show how many of our kids are being bullied, are alarming. Our goal is to bring more general awareness to this important issue, and to arm both children and parents with resources to face and overcome it.”

Research from the National Center for Bullying Prevention, the Virginia Department of Health, and the Olweus Bullying Prevention Program, was used to develop the materials for this public service effort. The following are statistics which are most prominent in the findings:

• One in every four kids is bullied frequently
• Only twenty-five to fifty percent of those children report the bullying
• This is a growing problem and quickly becoming an epidemic in this country.

McCollum adds, “Cox Communications is committed to supporting youth and education, and we are proud to launch this state-wide campaign.”

“Plugged In: Breaking the Bully Culture” Special on Cox 11

Cox Channel 11 will air another episode of its award-winning show “Plugged In: Breaking the Bully Culture” on Sunday. This special will give viewers a closer look at the impact of bullying behaviors on young people.

The show is hosted by Z104 morning radio personality, Nick Taylor, who speaks with students from Crittenden and Passage Middle Schools about the bullying behaviors they face everyday. Experts throughout Virginia who specialize in the advocacy for bullying prevention also join the discussion.

• Dr. Catherine Moffett , Associate Professor, Counselor Education, VCU
• Dr. Tawyna Pettiford-Wates , Founder & Director, The Conciliation Project
• Donzell Lewis , The Conciliation Project
• Janelle Spitz, Principal, Passage Middle School
• Patrice Lambusta , Library Media Specialist, Passage Middle School
• Tanya Graham , Teacher, Crittenden Middle School
• Nicholas Diggs , Teacher, Crittenden Middle School
• Deborah Christian , Certified Trainer, The Olweus Bullying Prevention Program

Participating in this production is a panel of bullying prevention experts from across the state including advisors from Virginia Commonwealth University, Virginia Tech, the Virginia Departments of Health and Education, and the National Center for the Prevention of Bullying.

Students from Passage Middle School and Crittenden Middle school were part of the interactive audience of the ‘Plugged In’ special hosted by Z104′s Nick Taylor. Tips and information sharing for subscribers will also occur regularly on the Cox Facebook and Twitter pages during the campaign.

There will be additional airings of this show throughout December and January on Cox 11 Hampton Roads, Cox 9 Roanoke, and the program will be available On Demand channel 2069.

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