Cyber Bullying Pandemic: How Parents Can Protect Their Kids

Cyberbullying behaviors are growing like pandemic across the World Wide Web. The behavior is personal and a proven polluter of your child's peace of mind. Kamaron Institute Research Center polled thousands and students and teachers. Nearly half, millions of American tweens and teens are being impacted by cyber bullying. Plus, as children's computer skills begin at younger ages, so do their cyber bullying behaviors. One in three elementary students report cyber bullying exposure. Teens don't tell their parents. Seven in 10 choose to suffer in silence rather than face the prospect of parental supervision, monitoring or web access limits. Definition CyberBulllyingr Cyberbullying is the use of Internet e-mail, instant messaging, chat rooms, pagers, cell phones, or other forms of information technology to deliberately and repeatedly hurt, taunt, ridicule, threaten or intimidate someone. Cyber Bullying For Parents Four critical cyberbullying communications commandments 1. Do not Delete 2. Do not Respond 3. Do tell you 4. Do save the evidence Communication: Talk regularly with your child about on-line activities he or she is involved in. Ask if their friends have received mean emails and txt and IM. Children are often more comfortable talking about issues indirectly. Set Limits: Set firm guidelines for cell phone and computer use and monitor that behavior. Research shows teens spending more tha 40 monthly hours' online. Raise Awareness: Talk specifically about cyber-bullying. Explain that that it is harmful and unacceptable behavior. Explain that it is not a joke or funny to the person receiving it. Have Consequences: Outline your expectations for responsible online behavior and clearly explain the consequences for inappropriate behavior. Save the Evidence: If you child is cyber bullied, save and copy the messages and websites, you may need this to take action. Encourage your child to tell you immediately if he or she is a victim of cyber-bullying. Tell your child "do not" respond to the bully and do not delete the "evidence". Most teems believe they are untraceable. Not true. They usually leave electronic "fingerprints" in their wake. Partner: Call your child's school; ask the principal what measurable, bullying preemption, activity-based programs they have in place today. Offer to serve on the group that expands the school's behavior and student safety policy to include cyber bullying behavior that disrupts the schools teaching and learning environment. Ask about results. If the situation call for it, partner with local law enforcement and schools resource officers. Harassment and stalking can have legal consequences. Be Solution Focused: Focus, model, and reinforce the replacement behavior for taunting, ridiculing behavior. Kind words that focus on character qualities are the correct replacement for bullying words and behaviors.