In Support Of National Bullying Prevention Month (October) Malls Across The Country Unite To Spread The Word

NILES, Ohio, Oct. 7, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- In support of National Bullying Prevention Month this October, Captain McFinn & Friends, a multi-platform brand created to help children become good people, is sponsoring the 4^th Annual Malls and Retailers Unite Against Bullying Initiative. This free, family-friendly event at shopping centers across the country is designed to create awareness of bullying behaviors and encourage children to be buddies.

Activities will take place at 264 locations throughout the U.S. and Canada – up significantly from 160 locations last year. Malls become "bully-free zones" and families have the opportunity to sign an anti-bullying pledge. Children and families can participate in exciting community activities including rallies, story time, arts & crafts, concerts and more. Often, children and teens share their own experiences with bullying behaviors as part of the event. A costumed Captain McFinn and his friends are typically on hand, to the delight of youngsters, while both local dignitaries and celebrity guests have been known to make appearances.

"The Malls and Retailers Unite Against Bullying events convey the importance of anti-bullying behavior education for children ages 3-5,  in  age-appropriate ways that will resonate with young children, contributing positively to their own social and emotional development," said Captain McFinn Vice President, Esther Buschau.

In-school education is also an important part of this Captain McFinn outreach program.  Each participating location also has the opportunity to donate a Captain McFinn S.H.A.R.K. (Students Help Achieve Respect and Kindness) Patrol educational package to a local school. S.H.A.R.K. Patrol is a comprehensive program developed to give Pre-K to 2^nd grade teachers everything they need to create safe, caring classrooms. The program engages students with fun, hands-on activities that discourage bullying behaviors while strengthening positive relationship skills. It includes an interactive app/eBook download, along with a 120-page Teachers Resource Guide featuring original adventures with a lovable cast of characters, books, plush, stationary and music.

Brand new to this year's campaign is the latest addition to Captain McFinn's Swim & Play mobile app, a new interactive world, called Riff Raff Reef. This new world focuses on anti-bullying behavior and resonates the important message through the app's most exciting feature -- its live facilitators. These real, live facilitators, called Explorers, respond in real time to how kids are interacting with the characters, games, and pro-social lessons. These live Explorers even address the children by their chosen avatar name. Designed to be both educational and highly entertaining, Swim & Play engages children in a unique way, while sharing important life lessons through live, interactive guided play.

Background

Approximately 3.2 million students are bullied each year. It is estimated that 160,000 children miss school every day due to fear of attack or intimidation by other students, according to the National Education Association. One in seven students in grades K-12 either exhibits or is targeted by bullying behaviors.*  

Studies show that bullying causes serious social and emotional problems for children, such as depression, low self-esteem and anxiety. Without intervention, bullies also suffer. As adults, they commit more crimes, use more mental health services and have a higher risk of alcoholism. Recent high-profile bully cases resulting in suicide have prompted schools to adopt stronger anti-bullying policies. Still, many situations go unnoticed, falling between the cracks of the most well-meaning program.**  

In 2006, Phyllis Cafaro, Vice-President of Marketing for The Cafaro Company, a real estate developer and shopping center manager, set out on a journey to create a brand to enrich the lives of children, teaching them to respect themselves, others and the incredible world around them. Inspired by her grandchildren, the magical world of Captain McFinn was created, in the form of children's books, CDs, DVDs and apps showing how teamwork and kindness are the tools children need to understand and handle bullying.

In October 2012, Cafaro-affiliated properties launched the first ever Captain McFinn and Friends Anti-Bullying Initiative to encourage local, state, and national officials to take a public stand against bullying behaviors.

About Captain McFinn
Captain McFinn is a brand that helps children become good people. While many educational brands focus on ABC's/123's, Captain McFinn & Friends equips children with pro-social tools to succeed in pre-school. Through state-of-the-art technology that enables live interactive guided play, and a nationwide anti-bullying behavior campaign, Captain McFinn focuses on social and emotional development for children ages 3-5. Captain McFinn is innovating live interactivity in children's entertainment via the Swim & Play App, in classrooms and at the local mall. With this approach, Captain McFinn opens up a whole new world of experiential learning for children. Captain McFinn is based in Niles, OH.

* Source: National Education Association, MBNBD (Make A Sound For A Voice Unheard) and Youth Ambassadors 4 Kids Clubs

** Source: Robert Faris and Diane Felmlee, "Status Struggles: Network Centrality and Gender Segregation in Same-and Cross-Gender Aggression," American Sociological Review, Vol. 76 2011

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SOURCE Captain McFinn