Picture provided by Microsoft Parents, are your children being bullied, cyber or otherwise? Would you even know? If you don't know, you need to find out. If not handled promptly and effectively, the emotional impacts to the target can be devastating and can even lead to suicide!
Open the lines of communication with your children when they are very young. Always listen to them and answer their questions using words that they will understand. When communication is established at an early age, they will feel comfortable talking to you about issues later. If you notice changes in their behavior, grades, friends, etc., talk to them immediately. All of these are signs that something is changing. It is imperative that you find out what it is.
When I grew up, the standard advice was "stand up to a bully and he or she will
back down." You do not know whether the bully has weapons or access to weapons. But likewise, it is not safe to allow the target to be bullied, either. Sometimes, these victims are the ones that snap and bring weapons to school or work out of frustration and fear. That is not necessarily the case anymore.
Rather than contacting the other parent directly, I'd advise enlisting teachers and principals. They need to be made aware of the situation so that they can separate both the bully and the target.
My previous post, 5 Softwares to Spy on Your Kids, was about software used to monitor your children's online communications. It applies here, as well. I'd advise you to be open with your children that you may monitor their social media sites and emails. This information could save your child's life!
For more information, please visit the following websites:
Cyberbullying Research Center - Resource materials for educators, parents and teens.
Stopbullying.gov Defines cyberbullying and provides tips for prevention.
Stop Cyberbulling - Trained tweens and teens staffing their own support line.
Last, tell your children that if they observe someone else being targeted that they need to handle the situation responsibly. They need to tell a teacher or principal or talk to you about it.
Open the lines of communication with your children when they are very young. Always listen to them and answer their questions using words that they will understand. When communication is established at an early age, they will feel comfortable talking to you about issues later. If you notice changes in their behavior, grades, friends, etc., talk to them immediately. All of these are signs that something is changing. It is imperative that you find out what it is.
When I grew up, the standard advice was "stand up to a bully and he or she will
back down." You do not know whether the bully has weapons or access to weapons. But likewise, it is not safe to allow the target to be bullied, either. Sometimes, these victims are the ones that snap and bring weapons to school or work out of frustration and fear. That is not necessarily the case anymore.
Rather than contacting the other parent directly, I'd advise enlisting teachers and principals. They need to be made aware of the situation so that they can separate both the bully and the target.
My previous post, 5 Softwares to Spy on Your Kids, was about software used to monitor your children's online communications. It applies here, as well. I'd advise you to be open with your children that you may monitor their social media sites and emails. This information could save your child's life!
For more information, please visit the following websites:
Cyberbullying Research Center - Resource materials for educators, parents and teens.
Stopbullying.gov Defines cyberbullying and provides tips for prevention.
Stop Cyberbulling - Trained tweens and teens staffing their own support line.
Last, tell your children that if they observe someone else being targeted that they need to handle the situation responsibly. They need to tell a teacher or principal or talk to you about it.
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