In recent years, bullying has expanded from occurring in-person to also taking place online. Between 2007 and 2016, the percentage of people who have experienced cyberbullying in their lifetime nearly doubled from 16% to 34%. Bullying no longer occurs primarily in school, and it is more difficult to escape online.

This video from Common Sense Media has some important tips on how we can help youth recognize cyberbullying and learn how to handle it if it happens.

We’ve also broken down some of these tips below:

1. Ignore the bully. Do not retaliate in any way; it only adds fuel to the fire. Besides, who wants to sink to that level?
2. Block the bully. Add phone numbers, email addresses, and social media accounts to your block list. Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok all have easy ways to block and mute any user that is harassing you.
3. Document the bully. Before blocking a bully or deleting unwanted comments and messages, be sure to print out physical copies of the harassment. (If you don’t have access to a printer, take screenshots on your phone or computer and save them in a special file.) Saving evidence is critical in case there is any need for proof in the future.
4. Report the bully. Also before blocking the bully, be sure to report them for violating the community guidelines.
5. Tell a trusted adult, like a parent/guardian or your Big. Bigs, be sure to connect with your Match Support Specialist if your Little reports cyberbullying (or any kind of bullying.)
6. Another guideline to follow is to set social media profiles to private and/or friends only. This way, it’s generally easier to track and identify who is instigating the bullying. (Many bullies hide under anonymous or “puppet” accounts to avoid being identified.)

Big Brothers Big Sisters of Tampa Bay serves children and their families through one-on-one mentoring programs in Hillsborough County and the surrounding counties, including Pinellas County, Pasco County, Alachua County, Polk County, Citrus County, Marion County, Hernando County, and Sumter County. If you’re looking for a rewarding and fun volunteer opportunity, find more information here.

 

Need ideas for some things to talk to your Little about? Looking for low-cost or no-cost community events and activities? Check out our Conversation Starters & Activities to help you and your Little learn about new topics and discover new hobbies and interests.

Do you want to learn what it takes to become a mentor and be a consistent friend for a kid in our community? Learn more at our Big Orientation & Training info session. View the schedule.

CONVERSATION STARTERS

Check in with your Little to see how they feel school is going. Do they need to catch up on anything over the winter break? Are you (or your Little) traveling for the holidays?

-November is National Aviation Month: Research about the history of Aviation and make some paper airplanes together.

-November 2^nd is “Look for Circles Day”. Yes, there is such a day. How many circles can you find around you in 30 seconds?

-November 3^rd is Sandwich Day. What kind of sandwiches are your favorite? What is the definition of a sandwich? Is a hot dog a sandwich? How about a burrito? What do you like to eat with your sandwiches?

-November 4^th is King Tut Day. Who was King Tut? Research King Tut and come up with 5 facts about him.

-November 9^th is Young Readers Day. What does your Little like to read? What did you read when you were young? If your Little was an Author, what would they write about?

-November 11^th is Veterans Day. Do you or your Little know any Veterans? Research what Veterans Day is. Does your Little ever consider joining the military?

-November 15^th is America Recycles Day.  Why is it important to recycle? Learn about the process of recycling.

-November 16^th is Fast Food Day. What are some of your favorite spots to grab a quick bite? If you made your own Fast Food restaurant, what kind of food would you serve? Is there a way to make fast food healthier?

-November 20^th is Beautiful Day.  Sometimes we have a tendency to focus on the negative. Let’s think about some things that we find really beautiful. Think about beautiful scenery, sounds, smells, etc. Look up some beautiful pictures and take some time to admire them.

-November 25^th is Thanksgiving Day. What are some things that you are thankful for?  How do you show people that you are Thankful for them? How do you celebrate Thanksgiving? What are some of your Thanksgiving traditions?

-November 28^th is Red Planet Day. Research the red planet, Mars. Come up with 5 facts about the planet together.

ACTIVITIES

• Help your Little make holiday gifts to give to their parent(s) and/or teacher(s).
• Collect non-perishable food items and taken them to a local food pantry. Discuss the idea of paying it forward with your Little.
• Have you ever wondered why leaves change colors? Try out this leaf chromatography STEM activity with your Little to find out!
• Make a homemade apple pie in a can with your Little! Make some and give them to family and friends as gifts! Click here to view the recipe.
• Visit a local corn maze: Sweetfields Farm 17250 Benes Roush Rd. Masaryktown, FL 34604 (352) 279-0977

FREE & LOW-COST COMMUNITY EVENTS

48th Annual Temple Terrace Arts & Crafts Festival — Nov. 14th | Woodmont Park 407 Woodmont Ave, Temple Terrace, FL 33617

You are invited to join us at our biggest outdoor event which is also the longest-running outdoor event in NE Hillsborough County—this marks our 48th year! 100+ award-winning artists and crafters share their valuable treasures with you just in time for holiday and home gift shopping. Or shop for yourself because you love beautiful, one-of-a-kind, handcrafted art, clothing, jewelry, photography, pottery, oh my! Free admission, free parking, free live entertainment, food trucks, free public art, and over 300 pieces of K-12 student art and photography on exhibit. Click here for more details.

 

33rd Annual Sponge Docks Seafood Festival— Nov. 12th-14th | 4800 U.S. Hwy 301 N. Tampa, FL 33610

Over one hundred artists and crafters! Thousands of people! Tasty food! Free parking! And great free entertainment! This November at historic Woodmont Park. Click here for more details.

 

Tampa Bay Times Turkey Trot— Nov. 25th | 540 S Hercules Ave, Clearwater, FL 33764

This is the largest running event in the Tampa Bay area with more than 17,000 runners participating annually! There’s a race for every skill level, including one for competitive runners, one for recreational runners, and one for walkers. The top finisher for the competitive races will receive a trophy. Proceeds benefit local charities and canned goods and non-perishable food will be collected in the stadium on race day to be donated. Registration includes an event t-shirt; the races start at 7 a.m.

Click here for more details.

 

Holiday Lights In The Gardens — Nov. 26 |  12520 Ulmerton Rd, Largo, FL 33774

Each year this amazing light display is visited by over 100,000 guests from near and far. The Gardens will sparkle with 1 million, twinkling, LED lights in a multitude of colors. Vibrant laser lights and lighted figures round out our display to wow guests of all ages. New this year will be our Children’s Candy Cane Area with family-focused fun and activities. Please consider joining us as a sponsor and help us spread lots of holiday cheer!

Click here for more details.

 

Social-emotional learning (SEL) is the process children go through in learning about who they are and how to navigate their environment including managing their emotions, relationships, and interactions. These skills are important to a child’s development and mental health, becoming their guide for building self-confidence and positive relationships with others. Big Brothers Big Sisters of Tampa Bay is dedicated to providing our community with tools and resources to enhance youth development.

There are five core competencies of social-emotional learning that include:

Self-Awareness – understanding your emotions and thoughts and how they influence your behavior.
Skills include identifying emotions, self-perception, recognizing strengths, self-confidence, and self-efficacy.

*Self-efficacy is the belief in your ability to succeed in specific situations or the accomplishment of a task. 

Self-Management – the ability to regulate your emotions and behaviors in different situations and to set and work toward goals.
Skills include executive function and self-regulation, stress management, and self-discipline.

*Executive function and self-regulation are the mental processes that enable us to plan, focus attention, remember instructions, and juggle multiple tasks successfully. Our brains need this skill set to filter distractions, prioritize tasks, set and achieve goals, and control impulses. 

Social Awareness – The ability to take the perspective of and empathize with others.
Skills include empathy, appreciating differences, and respect.

Relationship Skills – The ability to establish and maintain healthy and meaningful relationships with others.
Skills include: communicating clearly, listening, cooperating, resisting negative pressure, resolving conflicts, and supporting one another.

Responsible Decision-Making – The ability to make positive choices and take responsibility for positive and negative outcomes.
Skills include: identifying problems, analyzing situations, solving problems, and reflection.

Mentors can encourage a positive self-concept and weave opportunities for developing, practicing, and applying social and emotional skills into outings and conversations. Doing so will have a positive influence on a kid’s confidence, learning, and relationships.

Being a Big, or mentor, to a child in our community is an opportunity to help build a child’s social-emotional learning with one-to-one support from an adult. Become a Big and be that supportive adult for a child in our community. Attend a Big Orientation & Training session to get started and learn how you can empower a child’s social-emotional learning.

 

Additional resources on the impact of SEL on youth development and how to implement it:

The Benefits of Utilizing SEL Methodology

Why Social Emotional Learning is Suddenly in the Spotlight

SEL Activity Examples

 

We have learned that positive and negative experiences during childhood can shape and reshape the brain. Research suggests more exposure to chronic stress creates more neuron connections in the brain that lead to fear, anxiety, and poor impulse control, and fewer neural pathways are made in brain regions that impact reasoning, planning, and behavior control. The good news is a supportive adult can be an essential factor in building new neural pathways to prevent or reverse the effects of childhood trauma. Here are five everyday gestures cited in Changing Minds Now that act as protective factors against trauma:  

1. Celebrate – compliment and applaud a child’s efforts. When we celebrate a child’s achievements and challenges (big and small), we support the development of their self-identity and remind them of their value, competence, and lovability.  

2. Comfort – be patient and stay calm with children. To comfort is a gesture of making one feel safe and secure. Show compassion, provide reassurance, and demonstrate a commitment to consistently being there for a child without judgment. 

3. Listen – show interest in a child’s passions. If you actively listen to kids, you can help them feel safe and valued. Listening attentively shows you care and that their thoughts matter. Whether children share happiness, sadness, anger, or fear, having someone listen to them without judgment is critical. Help children identify their feelings, connect words to experiences, and learn healthy strategies to problem solve and cope. 

4. Collaborate – ask children their opinion. You can help teach collaboration and problem solving by modeling those behaviors, helping children build trust. Encourage kids to express their views and ask for help when needed. 

5. Inspire – explore new ideas. You can help inspire and build resiliency by identifying a child’s strengths and natural talents and exposing them to new opportunities. 

Watch “Changing Minds: Science of Childhood Trauma” for more information on the science of trauma to a child’s brain and the five healing gestures.

Want to be a supportive adult for a child in our community? Become a volunteer mentor and empower a child to reach their fullest potential with just a few hours each month. Attend a Virtual Big Orientation & Training to get started and learn about Big Brothers Big Sisters mentoring programs.

 

Do you need some ideas for things to talk to your Little about? Check out our Conversation Starters & Activities to help you and your Little learn about new topics and discover new hobbies and interests.

Do you want to learn what it takes to become a mentor and be a consistent friend for a kid in our community? Learn more at our Big Orientation & Training info session. View the schedule.

Conversation Starters

If you haven’t done so already, talk your Little about their goals for the school year, academic, behavioral, and social.

The first quarter ends at the end of October. Ask your Little how they feel like they are doing in school so far. What could they do to bring grades up next quarter?

October 1 is World Smile Day: What makes you smile? Draw a picture of something that makes you smile. What do you to do make others smile?

October 8 is World Egg Day: Do you like eggs? How do you like to eat them? They are healthy and full of protein. How many animals can you think of that lay eggs?

October 14 is National Dessert Day: What is your favorite dessert? Ice cream, pie, cake, cookies?  Do you know someone who loves to bake? Do you like to help? What is your favorite thing to bake? Design a cake or a new, crazy flavor of ice cream.

October 17 is National Pasta Day: Spaghetti, Fettuccini, Ravioli, Macaroni. Do you like pasta? What is your favorite? Learn the history of pasta and teach your Little about it.

October 25 is International Artist Day: What kind of art do you like to do? Drawing, painting, making jewelry, music, poetry? Who inspires you to make art? Who do you know that makes art? Do you have a favorite artist? Show your Little your art and ask them to share their art with you!

October 31 is Halloween: Is your Little participating? If so, how? Dressing up? Trick or Treating? Remind your Littles about Halloween safety, such as staying with a group or adult, checking candy before eating, food allergies, safety while carving pumpkins, etc.

• Talk about your favorite candy! Invent your own candy bars. Draw a picture of the wrapper design.
• This is a spooky time of year with scary images and movies etc. What are some things that scare you? Spiders, snakes, ghosts, heights, the dark?  Ask your Little if they are afraid of anything. Share your fear with your Little

 

Activities

Backpack Organization: Assist your Little in getting organized. Have your mentee bring their backpack on your next outing and map out a homework/study/reading schedule.

Pumpkin Carving: Take your Little to a pumpkin patch and pick out a pumpkin so that you can both carve, paint, or decorate it in a new creative way together.

The Simple Things: Notice and savor the small stuff!  You can help your Little become aware of daily good by pausing to notice and “take in” the beauty of a sunset, appreciating a stranger holding the door open for you and your Little, stopping to admire a vibrant tree in the park, listening to birds sing, etc.

Send & Receive Postcards: Postcrossing is a project that allows you to send and receive postcards from people around the world. These are real postcards, not electronic!  Individuals from over 212 different countries are represented.

Zip-Lock Bag Water Refraction Halloween Activity: The Zip Lock Bag Water Refraction is a simple and easy but amazing experiment. You can make the picture disappear by just putting the zip lock bag into the water. The required material can be found in every home.

Homemade Caramel Apples: Make homemade caramel apples with your Little…fun to make but even better to eat!

Gratitude Journal: Listing out a few things we are grateful for each day can have a positive impact on our mood, attitude, and relationships, so start a “Gratitude Journal” with your Little for 30 days. Each day, list three to five things you are grateful for. Share with each other when you get together or periodically ask your Little, “How do you feel after you’ve written what you are grateful for?” Another idea is to simply integrate a “Gratitude Practice” by sharing things you are grateful for, either at the beginning or end of each outing, to create a ritual and opportunity to recognize, practice, and strengthen your gratitude muscle.

Make a Bird Feeder: Research birds in our area and what they eat; make a bird feeder and fill it up!

 

Free & Low-Cost Community Events

Virtual Cooking Classes: Christopher Kimball’s MILK Street (from PBS) is offering a series of free hour-long virtual cooking classes for you and your Little! Please email cookingschool@177MILKSTREET.com for more details

Fall 2021 Schedule:

• October 16th: Pasta Perfect
• November 21st: Vegetables That Taste Great
• December 12th: The World’s Best Banana Bread (and Brownies)

October 1-3 – Hillsborough County Fair: 215 Sydney Washer Rd, Dover, FL 33527. Welcome to the Hillsborough Coun-ty Fair! Our annual county fair is held every fall. It is a celebration of community, agriculture, education, and exhibits! Livestock, rides, delicious food, live music, rodeo, derby, and lots more!

October 7 – Music on the Beach: Sunset Beach Concert Series: 1411 Gulf Road, Tarpon Springs, FL 34689. Join us for a great new Sunset Beach Concert Series. Concerts are once a month on Thursdays, February through November. You can park at the High School, catch the complimentary shuttle to the beach, enjoy the music and take the shuttle back. Concessions are available for purchase, or you can bring your own. Remember, pets and alcohol are not allowed, but your own food, drink, and chairs are. The music starts at 7 pm. Concerts are subject to change or cancellation due to weather.

October 16 – Multicultural Family Day: 1710 N. Highland Ave, Tampa, FL 33602. A free event for the entire family with live multicultural entertainment, food trucks, vendors, and much more!

October 16 – St. Petersburg Science Festival: Poynter Park, St. Petersburg, FL 33701. St. Petersburg Science Festival is a FREE community celebration of the wonders of hands-on science, technology, engineering, art, and math (STEAM). The 2021 public festival will be held on October 16 from 10 am-4 pm, at the waterfront campus of the USF St. Petersburg and Poynter Park along Bayboro Harbor. The event is held in conjunction with MarineQuest, the annual open house of the FWC Fish and Wildlife Research Institute.

October 16-31 – Riverwalk Halloween Hunt: The Tampa Riverwalk, Tampa, FL 33602. The Riverwalk Halloween Hunt is a family-friendly not-too-spooky virtual scavenger hunt along the Tampa Riverwalk. Individuals and teams will compete to be the first place Winner! Solve riddles, puzzles, and tasks while exploring the beautiful Riverwalk in this safe, outdoor Halloween activity fun for all ages. This event is free to the public. You must download the mobile app Mobile Adventures to participate (iOS & Android). Once the app has been downloaded, you will need to scan the QR code provided at the event to get started.

October 23-24 – Tarpon Springs Sponge Docks Arts & Craft Festival: Sponge Docks, Tarpon Springs, FL 34689. Arts & Crafts Festival in Historic Tarpon Springs Sponge Docks. More than 90 of the nation’s top artists and crafters with Made in the USA creations. From jewelry to ceramics to plants to photography to paintings and homemade soap, something to please everyone.

October 26 – Owl-O-Ween: McGough Nature Park-11901 146th St, Largo, FL 33774. Stroll along the spooky, haunted trails at McGough Nature Park in search of bats, owls, ghosts, and goblins. Join us for crafts, games, and scary stories by the campfire. Preregistration and prepayment are required. Call 727-518-3047 to reserve your spot.