PERTH, Australia, April 26, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Children are being bullied -- sometimes to death -- with at least 14 suicides in 2010, according to ABC News.

The Cardboard Girl (http://www.acashic.com/the-cardboard-girl/) a new book by a social worker, Marika Spaseska shows children, parents, teachers and school administrators how to protect children from being bullied in schools and playgrounds.

"The truth is that schools, teachers, parents, children and others struggle to deal with bullying. It is a multi-faceted problem with many contributing factors. For example, one key factor is that to date, we have anti-bullying policies in most schools, which by large, are not effectively endorsed," said Spaseska. "Should 'The Cardboard Girl' become available as a learning tool for classrooms, it has great potential to provide children and teachers with a better understanding of the issues and strategies to deal with bullying. There is proven evidence that suggests that children find reading books a great, enjoyable learning experience and benefit from discussions that ensue."

The book is text (not a picture book), approximately 15,000 words and is aimed at lower to upper primary school-aged children (7-12 years).

"'The Cardboard Girl' will touch the hearts of readers, as it shows how kids feel and act when bullied at school," she said. "The story will empower kids, as well as it may give parents, teachers and others better insight into bullying and what can be done to stop or minimize it."

Bullying can be physical (such as shoving, hitting or physical threats) or verbal (such as with insults or hurtful gossip). It can also often include a child telling another that they don't want to play with them and urging others to join them in ignoring you.

If you're being bullied or know someone who is, she advises:

• Speak to someone about what is going on for you. It is good for you to talk about what is happening to someone, be it family, friends, teacher or a counselor.
• Speak up: tell the kid who is bullying you to stop hurting you or others and that this is unfair. Tell them that what they are saying is nasty and hurtful and that they have no right to speak to you like that. It's ok to stand up for yourself.
• Write down about what is happening to you, such as dates, times, who bullied you, who was there and what occurred (for example, in a diary).
• Ask a teacher to also write down about what has happened to you. The teacher's notes, as well as your own, may be useful to help with what you may decide to do to deal with being bullied (for example, the teacher discussing it with parents, it may involve reporting violence to the police, the bully being expelled, leaving the school or other options).
• Value who you are, you are important, you can do things others may not - you're special, unique.
• Accept people from other cultures, races, ethnic backgrounds or who may look different to you (they may have a disability, be overweight, wear glasses, be tall with skinny legs).
• Believe you deserve a safe environment at school.
• Join in social sports, activities or exercise so that you can make friends outside of school. Exercise may make you feel better, too.
• Believe that life gets better -- there's a whole world waiting for you outside the school gates.
• Get more information from websites, from the library, parents or other ways to learn more about how to better deal with bullying.

She also offers these anti-bullying tips:

• Don't react like someone who is bullying you may do such as hit back, swear at them (name-calling) or put them down. You are only showing unfair behavior like them.
• Don't be silent. Silence suggests you're allowing the bullying to occur and unknowingly saying 'yes' to more of it.
• Don't allow being bullied to affect how you see yourself. You are a worthwhile person. It's their problem they're being hurtful.

About Marika Spaseska

Born in Macedonia, former Yugoslavia, Marika Spaseska arrived in Perth, Western Australia, at two years of age. Having worked for over 17 years as a Social Worker, Marika is passionate about children's wellbeing and hopes to empower them.

Inspired by a niece who experienced bullying at school, as well as her striking insight as a Social Worker, her first book has the potential to enable children to better deal with those that bully them.

For more information, please go to http://www.acashic.com/the-cardboard-girl/

Publishing Data

Title: The Cardboard Girl: Gives Bullying the Flick
Publisher: Acashic Publishing Bookshop
Publishing date: April 2011
ISBN: 978-1-4475-1177-9
Price: book - $19.99; ebook - $16.99

Contact:
Marika Spaseska
Phone: 0412722558
marika.spaseska@yahoo.com

SOURCE Marika Spaseska