DERRY — A local preschool is taking on bullying by offering a week full of special programs to teach friendship, learning and acceptance.
Beginning Feb. 6, the Goddard School on Tsienneto Road joins more than 300 other Goddard facilities around the nation to offer "Goddard Community Games" to help fight the bullying epidemic in America.
Special themed days throughout the week will include Friendship Day, Play Along Day, Good Deed Day, Goddard Cares Day, Community Hero Day and Games Day.
Activities will bolster friendship and teach children the importance of accepting each other's differences.
Joe Schumacher, CEO of Goddard Systems Inc., said the success and enjoyment preschool children experience through playful learning can help develop the self-confidence they need to prevent them from becoming victims of bullies or developing into bullies themselves.
"We make learning enjoyable and we build in lots of opportunity for each child to experience the satisfaction of success," he said. "A key benefit of this approach to learning is its emphasis on building self-esteem and confidence as children try, and succeed at, new challenges. A confident child is much less likely to develop into a bully or to accept bullying from another child."
Derry's Goddard School will included fun activities like yoga and music to also involved parents.
"In our preschools, playful learning activities not only equip children with specific skills and knowledge but also teach them about friendship, compassion, cooperation and kindness," Goddard representative Sue Adair said. "As we foster a sense of accomplishment and purpose in each child, we build a foundation of self-confidence that we believe is the best defense against bullying."
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