October is National Bullying Prevention Month, and Parents Lead, a North Dakota initiative administered by North Dakota Health and Human Services (HHS), encourages parents and caregivers to make bullying prevention part of everyday life. Simple conversations and everyday interactions can help children build confidence, resilience and empathy while developing the skills they need to form positive relationships and stand up for themselves and others.
Data from the 2025 North Dakota Youth Risk Behavior Survey shows that bullying continues to affect North Dakota students. Nearly half (43.5%) of middle school students reported having been bullied on school property during their lifetime. Additionally, 28.3% of middle school students reported having experienced electronic bullying during their lifetime. Bullying also affects high school students, with 18.4% reporting that they were bullied on school property in the past year, down from 25.4% in 2013. Additionally, 14.1% of high school students reported experiencing electronic bullying in the past year.
Parents Lead works to increase the well-being and resiliency of North Dakota youth by equipping parents and caregivers with practical tools and information to support healthy development. Parents and caregivers can incorporate bullying prevention into everyday parenting by talking with children about kindness, inclusion, respect and friendship, and helping them learn how to treat others and respond when they see someone being treated unfairly.
“Parents don’t have to wait for a problem to start talking about bullying,” said Sara Kapp, HHS behavioral health administrator. “Everyday conversations can help children build confidence, develop resilience, understand the importance of kindness and feel empowered to advocate for themselves and others. When parents model these behaviors at home, they help children develop the skills they need to navigate relationships and social situations.”
Parents Lead encourages parents and caregivers to:
Start conversations early about kindness, inclusion, friendship and respect.
Build confidence and resilience by helping children recognize their strengths and practice problem-solving.
Empower children to be part of the solution by teaching them how to include others, speak up safely and seek help from a trusted adult.
Model positive behavior by demonstrating empathy, respect and kindness in everyday interactions.
Stay connected in the digital world by talking with children about social media, digital communication and respectful online behavior.
Make time for connection through activities and conversations that strengthen relationships.
Parents Lead offers a variety of free resources on its website, ParentsLead.org. Families can find conversation starters about bullying, information to help recognize when a child may be experiencing bullying, tips for addressing cyberbullying and guidance for professionals working with children and families.
National Bullying Prevention Month reminds us that prevention happens in everyday moments. Parents and caregivers have opportunities each day to help children develop the confidence, empathy and resilience they need to build healthy relationships, support one another and contribute to positive communities.