No Name Calling Week

Bullying is a serious issue in today’s world, resulting in significant harm to individuals and sometimes even contributing to death by suicide.

While some people might consider name calling to be ‘all in good fun’, the reality is that words can harm. Name calling at schools in the United States has become so prevalent that up to 65% of older students have said that it is a serious problem in their schools.

No Name Calling Week is here to draw people back into the practice of honoring and respecting their fellow humans, being a force for good instead of evil!

History of No Name Calling Week

The start of No Name Calling Week can be traced back more than two decades ago when it started as an idea that was presented in a 2001 novel by James Howe called The Misfits.

In this book, some bullied students convince their principal to instill a No Name Calling Day to stop their bullies from mocking them.

While it started as a fictional idea, the actual day was founded in real life in 2004. This grassroots event was started through the efforts of elementary and high school students along with their teachers and school administrators.

Over the years, the event has been sponsored by the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network (GLSEN) to support inclusion and eliminate bullying.

How to Celebrate No Name Calling Week

Take a look at some of these ideas for getting involved with No Name Calling Week:

Stop Name Calling

While this might seem like something that only kids need to participate in, one of the reasons that kids call other people names is because they witness their parents or other adults doing it!

No Name Calling a Week should be a time for a moratorium on name calling for anyone – of any age.

Talk with the Kids About Name Calling

Parents and teachers can take this opportunity during No Name Calling Week to have serious conversations with the children in their lives about the practice of name calling.

Be sure to foster an honest conversation about how it feels to be called names, and also help a child think of other options when they are angry, upset or feel threatened.

Watch Some Shows About Bullying

One way to get invovled with No Name Calling Week might be to catch some popular media that has been presented on the topic.

Some shows have based their entire storylines on the concept of bullying, while others might have it as one thread of many themes.

Check out some of these films and television series that address the dangerous practice of bullying and name calling – and be sure to consider the negative impacts along the way:

• The DUFF – Designated Ugly Fat Friend (2015) starring Mae Whitman
• Pretty Little Liars (2010-2017) featuring Lucy Hale, Troian Bellisariao and Shay Mitchell
• Stranger Things (2016-2025) with a cast that includes Millie Bobby Brown, Finn Wolfhard and Caleb McLaughlin
• Mean Girls (2004) with Lindsey Lohan, Rachel McAdams and Tina Fey, this movie turned into a Broadway Musical