“We’re All Different But We’re All Kitty Cats" by Peter J. Goodman

We’re All Different But We’re All Kitty Cats takes a fun approach to teaching kids about bullying. Not only do they learn what bullying looks like, but they learn what they can do if they see others being bullied or if they are the one who gets bullied.

Children love animals, and cats make up the cast of characters in Goodman’s book. Through these characters and the storyline, a conversation is started among children, parents and educators about bullying, a topic that has serious implications across the nation and has been leaving many parents desperate for ways to address the issue.

dreamBig Press, who published the book, has partnered with PACER’s National Bullying Prevention Center to help raise awareness about bullying prevention. It has also partnered with the Montgomery County Humane Society to promote humane education, because it opens the door not only to the responsible care of pets at home, but also to caring for all living beings with compassion and kindness.

Here are some tips for parents when talking to their child about bullying:

• Discuss what bullying is so they have a clear definition of what would be included.
• Teach them to not react to bullies. If they do react, the bully is more likely to continue the behavior. By your child not reacting, the bully will most likely lose interest.
• Explain that children need to be confident when dealing with bullies. If ignoring them doesn’t work to end the bullying, they need to stand up to them by being confident, looking them in the eye, and telling them to stop the behavior.
• Encourage the child to make friends with others, so that the bully sees that the child has support.
• Always make sure that the child knows to seek assistance from school personnel. Bullying should be reported, so that the school can properly deal with it.
• Help children identify their strengths and learn to focus on those, rather than focusing on any negative traits that the bully may tease them about.