PARENT
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fOR	/¥RENTS OF STUDENTS IN GRADES 2-12

START WITH H[LLO

AT [VERY SCHOOL AND IN EVERY COMMUNITY...
there are young people who suffer silently because they feel left out. alone or invisible.

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S0<;:;ial isolation can become a serious issue. Young people who experience social isolation can become a victim of bullying. violence and/or depression.

Social isolation is an individual's perceived or real separation from a group of peers. It is a feeling that you don't fit in. that you don't belong, or that you have been left out. The separation may be the result of a rejection from others. or from the person's own withdrawal from others. Social isolation can  happen in person or online.

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As a result. many pull further away from society.struggle with learning and social' development and/or may choose to hurt themselves or others.
There is a differenc e between social
·,·.. isolation and healthy alone time. Not all alone time is bad. Healthy alone time  is

Is a prevention program that teaches children
and teens how to be more socially inclusive and connected to each other. Start With Hello asks students, educators, parents and other community leaders who interact with children to take steps in class, the lunchroom and/or other times in their day
to be inclusive and connected.

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when you choose to be alone  to clear	··, · your mind, take a break from·socializing." give time to  focus on  and  recharge yourself, and/or work through problems or

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·	possibilities without any outside influence. Some people are introverted. and nee	
:  more healthy  alone  time  than others	.	
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HER[ 'S HOW YOU CAN HELP..•.

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YOU CAN START WITH H[LLO IN 3 SIMPL[ STEPS:

Fostering inclusion and community is an important life skill and with practice. simple to do every day. There Is no age limit to reaching out to and helping others!
Your school or community organization may already be taking part In Sandy Hook Promise's Start With Hello activities. If they aren't. why not bring Start With Hello to them? All the materials and training are provided at no cost and are extremely easy to implement. Also- kids love It! We believe Start With Hello wlll be both meaningful and fun for your child. But It can also be fun for you! We hope you can use the ideas in the brief guide to continue the conversation at home and beyond into your community.

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FOR GRADES '2-5 

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Act It out/
Pretend to be an isolated student at your child's school and have your child practice reaching out and saying hello. Act out different scenario s. then switch roles and try it again.

<	FOR ALL AGES	
.  •  Ma ke StartWith Hello part of your family culture.
'..   Make an intentional effort to greet each other
,     .   '    with hello and ask questions about each other's day.
Practi ce active listening.

Model be st prac tices for your child.
Say hello to strangers on the street and mak conversations at stores or restaurants.

During car rides or at dinner challenge each other to use eye contact and truly listen.

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C reate  a poster.
Draw or paint a poster with your child to remind your family to ·start With Hello" and hang it up in your house.
Learn how to soy hello In different languages.
Challenge your child to try a different	· language each time they say hellol	·  ·
French - Bonjour	Spanish - Ho la
Ital/an - Buon Giorno	Germon -  Guten Tag
Make It a game/

Shore  your story.
Tell your child a story about a time that you reached out to someone who was alone and in need. What happened? How did you feel afterwards?

Be there for your child.

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Create a familywide contest to see who can say hello to the most people each day. Keep track of each person's "hello count" and celebrate the winner at the end of the week.

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1 Talk about what your child can do if they ever feel lonely at school. Remind your child that you are always there for them If they need someone to talk to.
Talk about good and bad kinds of being  alone.
When does being alone feel good? When does being alone feel bad?

Share strategies for starting conversat io n .

FOR GRADES 6- 12

Create your own conversation starters or try using the following: How Is your day going? What did you do over the weekend?
Discuss cybe r bullying.
Talk about what respect and soc ial inclusion
looks like on social media and discuss what		'· to do if they witness cyber bullying.	, · 1 .

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