By April Rodgers, Content Coordinator
The Bullying Epidemic – Part 4
There was a time when kids could escape school bullies by walking out the front doors at 2:50 p.m. The bus ride home, a hug from mom, a snack, a safe spot on the couch—those were the buffers between the cruelty of classmates and the comfort of home. But not anymore. Today, the bullying doesn’t end with the final bell.
In fact, for many kids, it only intensifies when they get home. Snapchat. Discord. Instagram. Group chats and gaming platforms. These are the new battlegrounds. Kids log on to relax, to play their favorite games, to feel like they belong somewhere—and instead, they’re met with the same name-callers, the same tormentors, the same cruel cliques, now hiding behind screen names and group messages. Sometimes it’s the very same classmates from school. Other times it’s anonymous users—strangers even—but the damage is just as deep.
The worst part? There’s no safe place to go. Unless a child completely cuts off all contact with the outside world, the bullying follows them like a shadow.
My own son has Snapchat—not for fun, but because it’s the only way one of his extracurricular groups communicates. That’s the world we live in. Staying off social media isn’t a solution when it’s where the team updates are, where the homework group is, where friends are hanging out—even if just online.
Some kids go online looking for a break from the real world. They’re not trying to scroll endlessly. They’re trying to find someone—anyone—who might say something kind. Something that makes them feel seen. Something that makes them feel like they matter. Sadly, that search for self-worth can lead to something even darker. Groomers know how to spot vulnerability. They know what lonely looks like. But that’s a conversation for another day.
For now, here’s what we can do—what every parent, every adult, every caregiver needs to start doing today: Talk to your kids. Every single day. Ask how school went, and don’t settle for the usual “fine.” Ask again. Pay attention. Are they quieter than usual? Are they staying in their room more? Are they really okay? Listen when your child talks about other kids. Are they making fun of someone at school? Teach them that everyone is different—and that’s exactly what makes people unique. That kid with the torn shoes? He deserves kindness. That boy with autism who acts out and seems odd? He deserves understanding. His behavior isn’t a choice—it’s a challenge. One he wakes up and battles every day.
Each child is carrying something. Not all of it is visible. The least we can do is make sure our children aren’t adding to someone else’s pain. Teach kindness and acceptance in your everyday conversations. It’s not asking too much.
It’s called parenting.
April Rodgers is a 1992 graduate of Bucyrus High School. She is the mother of four sons -Christian, Chase, Cameran, and Cory-and has been married to her high school crush, Art, for 11 years. She is also a proud pet mom to two fur babies: Woollee Bear, a Yorkshire Terrier, and Maverick, a rescued stray cat. She is the daughter of Harold Rodgers and Judy and Robert Dewalt. In her spare time, April enjoys shopping, traveling, and spending time with her family. A passionate reader, she loves The Shopaholic Series by Sophie Kinsella and proudly calls herself a shopaholic-just ask her Amazon driver! She also enjoys watching movies, with The American President being her all-time favorite. Her favorite quote comes from Josh Allen, MVP Buffalo Bills QB: ‘Be good, do good, God bless, and go Bills!’
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