Jeff Veley’s Blog
Expert insight for grownups featuring advice for parents, educators, and mental health professionals.
The Long-Term Effects of Quarantine on Mental Health
Doctor Predicts that Mental Health Pandemic is LikelyIt is no surprise that mental health challenges are increasing during the COVID-19 pandemic. As people abandon their everyday routines during quarantine, many wonder when restrictions will lift and if life will...
School District Livestreams Social & Emotional Learning Lessons
As a youth motivational speaker, reaching students and grownups during the Coronavirus has been a challenge. While I'd normally be traveling the country with my bullying prevention tour, the quarantine has forced me to get creative in how I reach schools. ...
Crisis Hotlines Report 1000% Increase in Calls During COVID
As Americans struggle to cope during quarantine, crisis hotlines are reporting a 1000% increase in calls for help. The Crisis Text Line, has grown in popularity, especially among teens. It's website currently has a pop-up message that says "Social Distancing may be...
Recommended Resources for Distance Learning
Lessons & Activities for Teachers and Home Educators The Coronavirus (COVID-19) has caused both professional educators and parents to scramble. America has completely restructured what learning looks like - overnight. Despite the pandemic and pandemonium...
How to Stop Mean Joking Behavior
Simple Solutions to Stop Aggression An often misunderstood form of aggression is "joking" behavior. Over time, a simple insult can grow into days or even years of comedic insults that drive kids crazy! The following article is based on the SQUABBLES® Theory of...
How to Stop Mean Bothering Behavior
Simple Solutions to Stop AggressionThe most recognizable form of social aggression (or bullying) is bothering behavior. If you search "bullying" on Google images, you'll find clip art of large angry-looking kids holding scrawny kids in the air by their shirt. While...
School Turns to Social and Emotional Learning to Stop Aggression
Empowering Students to Resolve ConflictsWorking with schools that invest in social and emotional learning is so inspiring. It’s a completely different approach than the traditional anti-bullying message. Instead of just telling student to REPORT social problems, it...
The Art of Parent Engagement
r liTips to Increasing Parent Interaction & Attendance One of the most common questions administrators ask is me how to boost attendance for parent events. As schools seek to provide resources and learning opportunities, it can be challenging and even...
Helping Students Become Their Own Hero
How Grownups can Empower Kids to Solve Social Problems Recently on my podcast I shared a common problem that I see with adults, when intervening in conflicts. It's a mindset that, at first glance, seems like the right thing to do. Upon further examination, we see...
SQUABBLES® Social & Emotional Learning for School & Home Educators
My co-authors and I are thrilled to announced that SQUABBLES® is now available for schools, families, and private practitioners. We've worked hard to game-i-fy bullying prevention, social and emotional learning, and conflict resolution. Through our curriculum and...
Bigfoot Gets Bullied becomes a #1 Amazon Best Seller
Children's Book Climbs the Charts Despite Hardships Writing and launching my first children's book has been an adventure that I'll never forget. Though the road to being self-published has been a challenging one, I was blown-away to hear that "Bigfoot Gets Bullied"...
Bigfoot Gets Bullied – FREE Children’s Book
FREE E-book Edition Available TodayI'm so excited to release my children's book "Bigfoot Gets Bullied". To celebrate the launch (and National Bullying Prevention Month), I'm giving away FREE copies of the Kindle Edition for a limited time. About the Book...
Bullying Victim Befriends Bully
How Worst Enemies Became Best Friends Abby's story is one of my favorites to tell. It shares the two simple steps that one middle schooler used to respond to mean behavior and effectively stop it, in less than one week.This is why the "Peace Sign Approach" is so...
New Podcast Helps Educators Build Golden Rule Schools
Youth Motivational Speaker Gives Listeners an Inside Look into EducationOn September 15th, youth motivational speaker and bullying prevention specialist Jeff Veley grabbed the mic and welcomed listeners to his new show. The Campus Peace Podcast documents Jeff's work...
SQUABBLES® Launches Card Game on Kickstarter
A Conflict Resolution Card Game I am so excited to announce the release of SQUABBLES: The Game of Conflict Resolution. Man oh man, it's been more than a year in the making and I want to thank everyone who has been patiently waiting for this resilience-building...
How to Stop Aggressive Behavior
Simple Solutions to Mean Behavior Bullying is a major buzzword in schools and among families. It seems that everyone has an opinion on how to handle bullies and solve this complex problem. Typically the solutions offered cause more issues or require programming...
Announcing SQUABBLES® Games for Social and Emotional Learning
Squabbles™ Launch Party It was a joy to announce the launch of Squabbles™ with my dear friends. Over one year in the making, Squabbles™ is the improvisational role-play game that teaches students how to manage emotions, solve social problems, and stop bullying...
Golden Rule Ambassadors Expands Curriculum to Reach Elementary Students
Social and Emotional Learning Program Program Helps Students Grow in Civility and CitizenshipAfter launching the Golden Rule Ambassadors Curriculum last fall, we took time to survey those using the program. While it was designed as a resource for middle and high...
National Tour Brings Bullying Prevention Message to Schools
Stop Bullying. Build Resilience. The "Love Changes It All Tour" will visit schools across the country this fall in an effort to help schools stop bullying through building resilience. The effort is led by national social skills educator Jeff Veley who produces the...
Michigan Schools Accused of Violating Anti-Bullying Laws
Educators Blamed for Underreporting A recent article from The Lansing State Journal caught my attention. As a Michigan native, I've spent countless hours in Michigan schools over the last 10 years, addressing the issue of bullying. In addition to being a youth...
New Social and Emotional Learning Programs for Schools
Powerful Social and Emotional Learning ProgramsSchools are looking for bullying prevention programs that work. Additionally, they want something that will last and help their students grow both socially and emotionally . Jeff Veley is a youth motivational speaker...
Columbine and the Anti-Bullying Movement: 20 Years Later
Reflecting on the Columbine MassacreToday, America reflects on the events of April 20th, 1999 at Columbine High School in Littleton, Colorado. It was a tragic day that changed how we view school safety and made us hug our kids a bit tighter, each day. After the...
Anti-Bully Law: Parents Fined for Kids’ Bullying Behavior
Wisconsin Attempts to Stop Bullies in New LegislationOne Wisconsin city is saying "no" to bullying through a new proposal that would hold parents responsible. The proposed law is one of many across America which attempts to reduce incidents of bullying through legal...
The Momo Challenge: Suicide Game or Viral Hoax
What is Momo? A scary face (known as Momo) is making another viral round on the internet, frightening parents and children. According to reports, the image suddenly appears on apps and websites such as YouTube, WhatsApp, Fortnight and Peppa Pig. It allegedly...
The Toxic Word “Bullying”
Bullying prevention specialists sit down to discuss the negative impacts of the word "bullying". Learn why this one word can derail progress when it comes to helping targets of social aggression.Today, the words "bully" and "bullying" are legal words, as there are...
Bullying Expert Speaks to Students/Parents at General McLane School District
Youth motivational speaker, Jeff Veley, spoke with hundreds of students in General McLane, from elementary to high school. An award-winning bullying expert makes his way to the General McLane School District. Tuesday, Jeff Veley, a youth motivational speaker, used a...
I Hope That My Brother Bullies Me
A Student's Positive Perspective on Bullying"I hope that my brother is mean to me". A seventh grade boy (whom I'll call Dylan) shared this with me following a recent school assembly. As a youth motivational speaker, my goal was to give students a different outlook...
Parenting Tips from Grandma Jo
My Grandma Jo has quickly become a memorable figure from my live school assembly. She loves, she dishes wisdom, and (most of all) Grandma don't play! In this special interview Grandma talks about what it was like to watch her grandson face bullying at school. Her...
Schools Flip the Script on Anti-Bullying Messages
Educators in Arkansas are using new language to address the issue of bullying. Often anti-bullying messages deter negative behavior, aiming at stopping bullies and encouraging victims to report all incidents. Many educators are looking to add some positivity to the...
Montana School District Hosts Community Forum on Mental Health
Community members filled the Dawson County High School Auditorium in Glendive, Montana on January 2nd. The "Stronger Together Community Forum" was created to address growing mental health concerns. It is expected to be the first in a series of discussions to help...