AUTHOR TRUDY LUDWIG VISITS GWL

Nationally Acclaimed Speaker & Award-Winning Author Trudy Ludwig Comes to All North Shore Elementary Schools

During the last week in March 2023, nationally acclaimed speaker and award-winning author, Trudy Ludwig, visited all three North Shore elementary school thanks to each of the parent organizations including the Glenwood Landing SCA, Sea Cliff PCA, Glen Head PTO, and Glenwood Landing librarian, Ms. Stephanie Smith. Her acclaimed children’s books focus on themes including the social interactions of children and bullying. During her presentation, she told the students how she was bullied by not only her friends but those friend’s parents. She quit her freelancing career to pursue writing children’s books and “make a difference in the lives of children, one book at a time.” Since then, she has become a sought-after speaker, presenting at schools and conferences around the country and educating students, parents, and teachers.

Ms. Ludwig’s books and presentations have received national praise for helping children connect and engage with their peers in kind, caring and inclusive ways. She has collaborated with leading experts and organizations including Sesame Workshop, International Bullying Prevention Association, Committee for Children and Connect Safely.org.

Ms. Ludwig continues to receive positive reviews for her passion and acclaimed books including My Secret Bully, Just Kidding, Sorry, Trouble Talk®, Too Perfect, Confessions of a Former Bully, Better Than You, The Invisible Boy, Power of One, Brave Every Day, and Gifts from the Enemy – focusing on helping children thrive in their social world. During her time at the Glen Head, Glenwood Landing and Sea Cliff Schools, she read from her books and explained to the young students that a person is bullied when a child is exposed to negative actions of another (or others), repeatedly and over time. By wearing a black hat called the “Bullying Hat” she demonstrated a many bullying behaviors to the students such as teasing, spreading rumors, making fun, gossiping, and even giving people the silent treatment. Then she called a small group up to the front to role play bullying behaviors and taught the whole group of students in the audience some tools to empower them in school and in their social world against bullying. She reminded the children that they all wore an imaginary tool belt and could be part of the “power of one” where one act of kindness and one person could make a difference in the world to affect other people.   

In the evening of March 30th, North Shore parents were invited to attend a special presentation titled “Understanding Our Kids’ Social World: Friendships, Cliques, and Power Plays.” For more information on Trudy Ludwig, please visit www.trudyludwig.com. Many thanks to all of the North Shore parent groups and librarians for organizing this wonderful event with nationally acclaimed speaker and award-winning author, Ms. Trudy Ludwig.

Article by Shelly Newman