As a parent, you want to protect your children and you want to teach them how to stick up for themselves and for what is right. Help your child learn how to prevent bullying by talking to them about the issue and encouraging them to speak up.
Explain to your children what bullying is, and that it is NEVER acceptable. Express your concern and make it clear you will listen and you want to help.
Teach your child what to do when they see or are a victim of bullying. Talk to them about which adults they can turn to and what to say when asking for help.
Everyone has a role to play in stopping bullying. Take a stand and lend a hand to stop bullying.
It is important to understand how children are cyberbullied so it can be easily recognized and action can be taken. Some of the most common cyberbullying tactics include:
The digital world is constantly evolving with new social media platforms, apps, and devices, and children and teens are often the first to use them. Some negative things that may occur include cyberbullying, texting, posting hateful messages or content, and participating in negative group conversations. If your child posts harmful or negative content online, it may not only harm other children; it can affect their online reputation, which can have negative implications for their employment or college admission.
While you may not be able to monitor all of your child’s activities, there are things you can do to prevent cyberbullying and protect your child from harmful digital behavior:
Many of the warning signs that cyberbullying is occurring happen around a child’s use of their device. Some of the warning signs that a child may be involved in cyberbullying are:
Resource from: https://www.stopbullying.gov/cyberbullying/prevention/index.html
If your child is being bullied, talk to your child's teacher instead of confronting the bully's parents. DoDEA is establishing all schools as No Bullying Zones. If no action is taken, talk to the principal.
Teach your child nonviolent ways to deal with bullies, like walking away or talking it out. Role-play bullying scenarios with your child. Help your child act with self-confidence.
Practice walking upright, looking people in the eye, and speaking clearly.
Don't encourage your child to fight. He or she could get hurt, get in trouble or start more serious problems with the bully.
Involve your children in activities outside of school so they know they can make friends in a different social circle.
Know what is going on at your child's school. Learn about its bullying prevention program, join the PTA and get involved. Be persistent. Bullying isn't solved overnight.
If your child is being bullied, chances are that there are other children in the school who are having similar experiences.
If your child tells you that he or she has been bullied or if you suspect your child is being bullied, what should the school do?
All children are entitled to courteous and respectful treatment by other students and the staff at school. As educators, we have a duty to provide a safe learning environment and most educators take their responsibilities to stop bullying very seriously.
School staff should never have a joint meeting with your child and the child who bullied them. This could be very embarrassing and intimidating for your child. They should not refer the children to mediation. Bullying is a form of victimization, not a conflict. It should not be mediated.
Staff should meet with your child to learn about the bullying that he or she has experienced. They should develop a plan to help keep your child safe, and they should be watchful for any future bullying. Educators should assure your child that they will work hard to see that the bullying stops.
School personnel should meet with the children who are suspected of taking part in the bullying. They should make it clear to these children that bullying is against school rules and will not be tolerated. If appropriate, they should administer consequences (such as a loss of recess privileges) to the children who bullied and notify their parents.
Be persistent. You may need to keep speaking out about the bullying that your child experiences.
No parent wants to believe their child is bullying but if you suspect it, either because it has been brought to your attention or just because you have a concern that it might be happening you have a responsibility to take action.
Working closely with the school to resolve the situation is important.
It may be that your child was bullied and is now repeating the behavior.
Parents need to remember that children who bully are at high risk for engaging in risky or even criminal behaviors, and it is very important in a bullying situation for the parents to act immediately.
If you notice warning signs that a child may be involved in cyberbullying, take steps to investigate that child’s digital behavior. Cyberbullying is a form of bullying, and adults should take the same approach to address it: support the child being bullied, address the bullying behavior of a participant, and show children that cyberbullying is taken seriously. Because cyberbullying happens online, responding to it requires different approaches. If you think that a child is involved in cyberbullying, there are several things you can do:
Resource from: https://www.stopbullying.gov/cyberbullying/prevention/index.html