“Sticks and stones may break my bones, but names will never hurt me.”

That was a lie that I was told as a child. I have literally experienced sticks and stones, as well as name calling. The worst physical violence done to me as a child was probably being knocked unconscious after being hit in the head by a large stick. I certainly could have been permanently hurt by that incident, but was not. On the other hand the verbal bullying did do permanent damage. “Just ignore it” is harmful advice for a bullied child. Consider the research:

• Children who are bullied—and especially those who are frequently bullied—continue to be at risk for a wide range of poor social, health, and economic outcomes nearly four decades after exposure.
• Being bullied by peers in childhood had generally worse long-term adverse effects on young adults’ mental health [than maltreatment by adults].

Show your nobility, your human strength – halt bully behaviour. Sticks and stones break bones and names will hurt forever.

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