Website gives kids new place to report bullying

A website developed by an educator gives children a new avenue to report bullying.

"You put in your school's name, your principal or teacher's name and their email, you type them a message. They don't have to know its from you," said Doug Rickets to San Diego NBC station KNSD.

Rickets is an anti bullying consultant.  He's also a former teacher and principal.

"Part of the reason why I developed the website is because I think kids really weren't reporting it," said Rickets.

He says research shows 90 percent of students are reporting some sort of bullying or harassment between fourth and eighth grades.

The website, bongokidsz.com, can help kids learn that bullying hurts.  They learn from messages from Lorenzo, a kind lion from New York.

Children can also use the website to take a kindness pledge and commit to not bullying others.

Kids who have used it say the website is needed.

"Sometimes they call people names when they play or when they get into an argument," said 8-year-old Samantha Green.

BongoKidz.com doesn't just let kids report bullying.  It lets them send nice messages to friends or family they know.

"This website is cool because you can like write this pledge about kindness," said Kien Vu.

To see how the website lets kids report bullying, click here.