Jeff Veley’s Blog
Expert insight for grownups featuring advice for parents, educators, and mental health professionals.
A Real-Life Resilience Story
From foster care to Congress—one young man’s decision to rise above and advocate for othersOver the past two years, a young man named Jaydan has become part of my family—though not in the way I once expected. Since the age of six, Jaydan has been part of the foster...
How to Foster a Peaceful School Environment
The Power of Multi-Year Social Aggression and Conflict Resolution InitiativesEducators and administrators have the shared responsibility of creating a school environment that fosters not only academic growth but also emotional and social well-being. Social aggression...
Nurturing Social Harmony: The Benefits of Restorative Practices in Education for Addressing Social Aggression
In today's interconnected world, fostering positive social relationships and addressing social aggression have become critical concerns in educational settings. The traditional punitive approaches to discipline often fail to address the root causes of aggressive...
A Comparative Analysis: Anti-Bullying vs. Bullying Prevention Techniques
Bullying remains a significant concern within educational settings, affecting students' well-being and academic performance. As school administrators, it is imperative to implement effective strategies to address this issue. Two prominent approaches that often come up...
The Benefits of Social & Emotional Learning
Social and emotional learning (SEL) is the process of acquiring skills and knowledge to manage emotions, establish positive relationships, and make responsible decisions. SEL is essential for students' success in school and life, and research has demonstrated numerous...
Resilience Education for Preventing Bullying: Empowering Children to Thrive
Bullying is a pervasive problem in schools and communities worldwide. It can take many forms, from physical aggression to verbal abuse, and can cause long-lasting harm to the victims. Resilience education is a promising approach to preventing bullying and promoting...
Why Anti-Bullying Programs Are Ineffective
Bullying is a pervasive problem in many schools and communities around the world. The harmful effects of bullying can last a lifetime, leading to mental health issues such as anxiety and depression, and even suicide. For this reason, many schools have implemented...
Saying “Bullying” is Like Pulling a Fire Alarm
The Unintended Consequences of "Bullying" If you ever had someone pull the fire alarm, you know the panic that erupts. I remember that some kids at my high school thought it would be funny to pull the fire alarm as a prank. The staff was not amused. While the students...
Can Bystanders Stop Bullying?
How to Intervene When Others are MeanThe role of the witness or bystander to aggression, is one that's often called into question. Research shows that those who intervene can often stop mean behavior in the moment. If this is true, what lengths should children go to...
What do you do when your Boss is the Bully?
How to Handle Aggression from Authority The core definition that constitutes "bullying" is an imbalance of power. The challenge when we experience aggression from authority is that a power imbalance is a structure in which professional relationship exists, especially...
National School Tour Helps Schools Address Mental Health Concerns
Youth Motivational Speaker Makes it Fun to Build Emotional Resilience Music, magic, and gut-busting comedy grabs the attention of students attending a school assembly by youth motivational speaker Jeff Veley. For over a decade, Jeff has mixed entertainment with...
Why Bullying Awareness Isn’t Enough: Finding a Solution to the Bullying Problem
Bullying is nothing new. From the infamous Phoebe Prince case a decade ago to the recent news that mega-producer Scott Rudin is stepping back from Broadway due to allegations of workplace harassment, bullying extends from the schoolyard to the office. The question is,...
Educators, How Can We Best Care for You?
Tips for Boosting Staff Morale and Wellness It's no secret that it's been a tough year. Burn out is at an all time high for educators. Instead of assuming what teachers need, I reached out to large groups of educators and social media and asked. My question......
Black Friday Deals Now Live!
Up to 50% off Educational ProductsI'm excited to announce my BLACK FRIDAY deals, with some special offers for schools. You can save up to 50% when purchasing one of my on-demand assemblies. Yep, you can host one of my award-winning school assemblies with no travel...
School Culture and Commitment
The Impact of Commitment and Consistency in Education Being Committed to the Right Thing Consistency is the key to behavioral change. Consistency with the right things will help you succeed. Consistency with the wrong thing - obviously is bad. Many schools fall...
Virtual School Assemblies Help Students Overcome Challenges
Youth Motivational Speaker Teaches Students Resiliency and Coping SkillsNew Challenges for Students It's no surprise that 2020 has been a tough year for all of us. But when it comes to students who are having their school years disrupted due to COVID-19, it can...
Social & Emotional Learning without the Planning
Plug and Play Lessons for On-Campus & At-Home Learning.When you consider all of the challenges this school year, teachers and counselors are in need of simple ways to engage students. During COVID-19 it's especially important that we teach social and emotional...
Overcoming the Back-to-School Blues
Tip for Preparing At-Home Learners For many students, heading back to school this year looks very different than in the past. As a parent, it can be hard to know how to get your student excited for at-home learning. Here are a few things you can do to help them look...
Is Anti-Racist the Answer?
Why the Anti-Racist Movement May Increase Hate & Violence The desire to stand against racism is one that's being felt, across America and around the world. As we reflect on the tragic murder of George Floyd and many others, movements for justice and equality are...
The Long-Term Effects of Quarantine on Mental Health
Doctor Predicts that Mental Health Pandemic is Likely It 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 People Who Want to Hurt You
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 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
Tips 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 disheartening...
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...