It was a typical Sunday morning when my daughter, a sixth-grader, sat looking downcast and preoccupied. Even her beloved French toast couldn’t lift her spirits. Her phone, charging on the counter, constantly buzzed and lit up. Clearly, something was happening.
“What’s going on?” I asked, motioning toward the phone.
“Nothing,” she mumbled, avoiding my gaze. That response usually meant there was indeed something troubling her, but she wasn’t ready to discuss it. I decided to let it slide. After finishing her meal, she grabbed her phone.
“Ugh! Why do Mia and Jake feel the need to post every little thing they do? It’s so infuriating! I know they’re hanging out without me, but must they flaunt it?”
Good question. The answer is a resounding no; they don’t have to make it all public.
Navigating the tricky waters of middle school social dynamics has always been a rite of passage, but with smartphones tethering our kids to each other 24/7, taking a break from social pressures is tougher than ever. According to the Influence Central 2016 Digital Trends Study, 50% of kids have social media accounts by age 12, and 64% access the internet via their devices.
Negative interactions online can profoundly affect how our tweens view themselves and their peers. When kids post pictures with only a couple of friends—forgetting to tag others or excluding certain individuals from group chats—it can be deeply isolating for those left out. Middle school is tumultuous enough with emotional, physical, and academic hurdles; adding social exclusion only exacerbates the difficulties.
That’s why April 28 is designated as Call It Out Day. This initiative, part of the Positive Prevention series by Beyond Differences, follows programs like No One Eats Alone and Know Your Classmates. Call It Out Day is a free, in-school event aimed at empowering middle school students to speak up against online social isolation. The curriculum provides effective strategies for addressing digital gossip and exclusion, helping tweens and teens express their true selves online.
Seems simple enough, right? But remember, we’re talking about kids aged 11 to 14, who are just starting to discover their identities and social standings. Peer pressure is palpable and often overwhelming. Rules from teachers and parents may not resonate well with this age group. Recognizing this challenge, Beyond Differences has crafted a program that equips students with the skills to make compassionate and positive online choices, but the ultimate responsibility lies with them.
As I witnessed kids taking the #CallItOutDay pledge, I felt a swell of respect. It takes immense courage for a tween to publicly stand against the majority, even when that majority is largely anonymous. I was bullied in middle school and never spoke up—neither to teachers nor my parents. Others were aware of my struggles but feared they would become targets themselves by informing an adult. If only there had been a program to combat bullying or social isolation, perhaps my own experience would have been less painful or even avoided.
To date, over 400 schools have joined the #CallItOutDay movement. Check to see if your school is participating; if not, it’s easy to sign up—at no cost. Parents can also engage and review the curriculum by signing up. There are four lesson plans leading up to Call It Out Day.
If April 28 isn’t feasible for your school, you can still implement the curriculum anytime. The aim is for our middle schoolers to transform negativity into positivity, exclusion into inclusion, and cruelty into kindness. While not every child will be best friends with everyone else, all kids can stand up against bad behavior when they encounter it. Understanding the impact of such behavior and how to foster change is at the heart of Call It Out Day.
For more details and to sign up, head over to CallItOutDay.org. For those interested in home insemination resources, check out this informative post, and for an authoritative guide, take a look at this source. Additionally, if you’re seeking reliable information on pregnancy, the CDC is an excellent resource.
In summary, Call It Out Day stands as a powerful initiative encouraging kids to be kind online, promoting inclusivity and empathy in an age where social interactions can often feel isolating.
Keyphrase: Call It Out Day
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