"Tip" Tuesday - March 19, 2013

Parents: - 9:00am Post
Listen. It’s your child’s story; let him or her tell it. Your child may be in emotional pain about the way he or she is being treated and needs your help.

Believe. The knowledge that a child is being bullied can be emotionally painful. To be an effective advocate, parents need to react in a way that encourages their child to trust them.

Be supportive. Tell your child it is not his fault and that he does not deserve to be bullied. Parents should empower their child and avoid judgmental comments about their child or the child who bullies. Your child may already be feeling isolated, and hearing negative statements from parents may only further isolate him.

Be patient. Children may not be ready to open up right away. Talking about the bullying may be difficult, as they may fear retaliation from the bully or believe that even if they tell an adult, nothing will change. Your child might be feeling insecure, withdrawn, frightened, or ashamed.

Provide information. Parents should educate their child about bullying by providing information at a level the child can understand.

Explore options for intervention strategies. Parents can discuss with their child options they may have in dealing with bullying behavior.

TIPS for Parents - 12:00am Post
* Teach your children that if they see someone being bullied, they should not watch, laugh or join in.
* Pay attention to the relationships in your children’s groups. Ensure all children are included and that inappropriate behaviors are addressed.
* Help kids see the value of offering empathy and support to those who are bullied.
* Work with your child’s school to educate others about the problem of bullying.
* Be a good example for your children. Model respectful behaviors at home and in your daily interactions.

TIPS for Parents - Cyber-Bullying - 3:45pm Post
How parents can help stop cyber bullying:
* Familiarize yourself with online activities. Learn about the websites, blogs, chat rooms and cyber lingo that your children are using.
* Keep the computer in a common area so you can monitor activities.
* Keep open communication lines with your children so they feel comfortable talking to you about cyber bullying experiences. Let them know that you are there to support them.
* Recognize that online communication is a very important social aspect in kids’ lives. Do not automatically remove their online privileges if you find out about a cyber bullying experience.
* Talk to your children about what is acceptable behavior online and offline.
* Report any incident of online harassment and physical threats to the local police or your Internet Service Provider.
* Report any bullying that occurs over your child’s cell phone to your phone service provider. You may have to change the phone number if the problem does not stop.

TIPS to Help Parents Prevent Bullying - Schools - 7:15pm Post
Parents and guardians can be among a school's best allies in bullying prevention:

Talk with and Listen to Your Children Everyday Ask questions about their school day, including experiences on the way to and from school, lunch, and recess. Ask about their peers. Children who feel comfortable talking to their parents about these matters before they are involved in bullying are more likely to get them involved after.

Spend time at School and Recess Schools can lack the resources to provide all students individualized attention during "free" time like recess. Volunteer to coordinate games and activities that encourage children to interact with peers aside from their best friends.

Be a Good Example When you get angry at waiters, other drivers or others, model effective communication techniques. As Education.com puts it, "Any time you speak to another person in a mean or abusive way, you're teaching your child that bullying is ok."

Create Healthy Anti-Bullying Habits Starting as young as possible, coach your children on both what not to do (push, tease, and be mean to others) as well as what to do (be kind, empathize, and take turns). Also coach your child on what to do if someone is mean to him or to another (get an adult, tell the bully to stop, walk away and ignore the bully).

Make Sure Your Child Understands Bullying Explicitly explain what it is and that it's not normal or tolerable for them to bully, be bullied, or stand by and watch other kids be bullied

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