Advice for Parents

What steps can parents take to address bullying?

1. Ask the child directly. Often children do not wish to tell their parents due to shame and embarrassment, or fear that bullies will retaliate if they tell. Look for signs such as: fear of going to school, lack of friends, missing belongings and torn clothing, and increased fearfulness and anxiety.
2. Work with the school immediately to make sure your child is safe, that effective consequences are applied toward the bully, and that monitoring at school is adequate. Advocate for involvement of the bully's parents. If the bullying is happening on the way to and from school, arrange for the child to get to school with older, supportive children, or take him or her until other interventions can take place.
3. If your child is timid, and lacks friends, try to arrange for your child participate in positive social groups which meet his or her interests. Developing your child's special skills and confidence in the context of a positive social group can be very helpful.
4. Suggest that the school implement a comprehensive anti-bullying program. A home and school association meeting to discuss and support such an initiative can also be helpful.

Source: http://www.lfcc.on.ca/bully.htm

Cyberbullying - As a parent, what can I do?

• Keep an open dialogue with your youth
• Keep Internet-connected computers in an open area
• Help your youth choose a screen name or e-mail address that does not reveal anything personal
• Teach your youth never to open attachments from strangers
• Make sure your youth knows to tell an adult if something online makes them feel uncomfortable
• Check on your youth periodically, regardless of age, while they're online

Source:  http://www.prevnet.com/

Victims of Cyberbullying should be encouraged to:

• Stop. Do not reply to messages from cyberbullies.
• Copy. Make copies of all messages and pictures.
• Block or filter communications.
• Tell a trusted adult.

Advice to Students and Parents
Save the following:

• E-mail address
• Date and time received
• Copies of relevant e-mail, with full headers
• Nickname of offending person
• Name and URL of chat room

If the cyberbullying is threatening:

• Change your e-mail address, account, username or phone number.
• File a detailed complaint with the school.
• File a complaint with the Website, Internet provider or cell phone company.
• Contact the police if conduct appears to be criminal.

Source:  http://www.canadiansafeschools.com/