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Los Efectos del Bullying en la Autoestima del Niño

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Los Efectos del Bullying en la Autoestima del Niño

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Los Efectos del Bullying en la Autoestima del Niño

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Cómo usar Google Chrome para traducir un sitio web

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Cómo usar Google Chrome para traducir un sitio web

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How to Use Google Chrome to Translate a website

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Bullying and Harassment Intervention and Prevention Webinar

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Bullying and Harassment Intervention and Prevention Webinar

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Bullying and Harassment Intervention and Prevention Webinar

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Los Efectos del Bullying en la Autoestima del Niño

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Los Efectos del Bullying en la Autoestima del Niño

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Los Efectos del Bullying en la Autoestima del Niño

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The Effects of Bullying on Self Esteem   بناء تقدير الذات ووقف التنمر

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The Effects of Bullying on Self Esteem   بناء تقدير الذات ووقف التنمر

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The Effects of Bullying on Self Esteem   بناء تقدير الذات ووقف التنمر

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Help Your Child Deal With Bullies and Bullying Elementary 

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Help Your Child Deal With Bullies and Bullying Elementary 

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Ayude a su hijo a lidiar con los peleones y la intimidación Primaria 

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Ayude a su hijo a lidiar con los peleones y la intimidación Primaria 

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Help Your Student Deal With Bullies and Bullying Secondary 

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Help Your Student Deal With Bullies and Bullying Secondary 

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Ayude a su estudiante a lidiar con los peleones y la intimidación Escuela Secundaria

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Ayude a su estudiante a lidiar con los peleones y la intimidación Escuela Secundaria

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Browse the FRC Collection of Books about Bullying  

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Browse the FRC Collection of Books about Bullying  

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Van der Zande, Irene.Bullying : what adults need to know and do to keep kids safe

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FRC Book Pack (Bullying for parents of teens)

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FRC Book Pack (Bullying for parents of teens)

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Bullying (for parents of young children) 

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Bullying (for parents of young children) 

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Model Policy to Address Bullying in Virginia’s Schools

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Model Policy to Address Bullying in Virginia’s Schools

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Look for the three Ps: purpose, pattern, and power imbalance.

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Classroom Tool Kits - National Bullying Prevention Center

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Classroom Tool Kits - National Bullying Prevention Center

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Free educational options designed for younger students to creatively engage them to build their understanding and develop the skills on how to address and prevent bullying.

Free activities and resources designed for younger students. The goal is to creatively engage them through conversation, activities, art and music to build their understanding of how to handle bullying situations.

Free educational options designed for teens to creatively engage them to build their understanding and skills on how to address and prevent bullying.

Free activities and resources designed for older students. The goal is to creatively engage them through conversation, event planning, activities, art and music to build their understanding of how to handle bullying situations.

Register for the free, weekly, year-long classroom resources designed to create environments in which every student is Included, Involved, and Invested in preventing and addressing bullying.

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Classroom Tool Kits - National Bullying Prevention Center

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Free, online educational activities and resources designed to engage students in K-12.

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Prevención: conozca cómo identificar el acoso y enfrentarlo de manera segura

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Prevención: conozca cómo identificar el acoso y enfrentarlo de manera segura

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Detener el acoso escolar en el momento

Cuando los adultos responden rápidamente y de forma constante a situaciones de acoso, transmiten el mensaje de que no es un comportamiento aceptable. Las investigaciones demuestran que, con el tiempo, esta actitud puede detener el acoso.

Los padres, el personal educativo y otros adultos en la comunidad pueden ayudar a los niños a prevenir el acoso al hablar de ello, crear un entorno escolar seguro y crear una estrategia de prevención contra el acoso a nivel de toda la comunidad.

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StopBullying.gov brinda información de varias agencias gubernamentales sobre el acoso, el ciberacoso, la prevención y la respuesta.

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Lista para Saber si Eres Blanco de Bullying

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Lista para Saber si Eres Blanco de Bullying

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Lista para Saber si tu estas haciendo bullying 

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Lista para Saber si tu estas haciendo bullying 

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Notificando a la Escuela Acerca de un Incidente de Bullying

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Notificando a la Escuela Acerca de un Incidente de Bullying

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¿Te están acosando? ¿Eres testigo de acoso en tu escuela? Hay cosas que puedes hacer para protegerte y proteger a los niños que conoces del acoso.

Trate a todos con respeto

Nadie debería tratar mal a los demás.

Deténgase a pensar antes de decir o hacer algo que pueda lastimar a otro.

Si siente la necesidad de tratar mal a alguien, busque algo que hacer. Elija un juego, mire televisión o hable con un amigo.

Hable con un adulto de confianza. Puede ayudarlo a encontrar maneras de ser más amable con otros.

Recuerde que todos somos diferentes. Ni mejor ni peor. Solo diferentes.

Si cree que ha acosado a alguien anteriormente, discúlpese. Todos se sentirán mejor.

Qué hacer si lo acosan

Hay cosas que puede hacer si lo acosan:

Mire al niño que lo acosa y dígale que pare en un tono calmo y claro. Trate de tomarse la situación con humor. Le resultará más fácil si suele hacer bromas. Es probable que su actitud tome por sorpresa al niño que lo acosa.

Si hablar le parece muy difícil o inseguro, márchese y permanezca alejado. No responda con violencia. Encuentre un adulto que ponga fin al acoso de inmediato.

También hay cosas que puedes hacer para permanecer seguro más adelante.

Hable con un adulto de confianza. No reprima sus sentimientos. Conversar con alguien puede ayudarlo a sentirse más acompañado. Otra persona puede ayudarlo a diseñar un plan para terminar con el acoso.

Aléjese de lugares donde suelen ocurrir situaciones de acoso.

Permanezca cerca de personas adultas y otros niños. La mayoría de los casos de acoso escolar sucede cuando no hay adultos cerca.

Protéjase del ciberacoso

El acoso no siempre sucede en persona. El ciberacoso es un tipo de acoso que tiene lugar en línea o a través de emails y mensajes de texto. Hay cosas que puede hacer para protegerse.

Piense siempre en lo que publica. Nunca sabe lo que podría reenviar otra persona. Ser amable con los demás en línea lo ayudará a protegerse. No comparta nada que pueda herir o avergonzar a otro.

No revele su contraseña a otros niños. Incluso niños que considera sus amigos podrían revelar su contraseña o usarla de formas que no desea. Permita que sus padres tengan sus contraseñas.

Piense quién ve lo que publica en Internet. ¿Completos desconocidos? ¿Amigos? ¿Amigos de amigos? Las configuraciones de privacidad le permiten controlar quiénes ven lo que publica.

Hable con sus padres. Cuénteles lo que hace en Internet y con quién lo hace. Permítales que lo sigan o acepte su solicitud de amistad. Escuche lo que deseen decirle sobre lo que está bien hacer y lo que no. Ellos se preocupan por usted y quieren que esté a salvo.

Hable con un adulto de su confianza sobre los mensajes que reciba o las cosas que vea en línea que lo hagan sentir triste o le generen temor. Si se trata de ciberacoso, infórmelo.

Defienda a otros

Cuando presencie un caso de acoso escolar, hay formas seguras de ponerle fin.

Converse con un padre, docente u otro adulto en quien confíe. Los adultos deben saber las cosas malas que suceden para poder ayudar.

Sea amable con el niño acosado. Demuéstreles su interés tratando de integrarlos. Siéntese con ellos durante el almuerzo o en el autobús, hable con ellos en la escuela o invítelos a realizar alguna actividad. Simplemente pasar tiempo con ellos los ayudará a saber que no están solos.

No decir nada podría empeorar las cosas para todos. El niño que realiza el acoso escolar pensará que está bien seguir tratando a otros de esa forma.

Participe

Puede convertirse en líder de la prevención del acoso en su comunidad.

Averigüe más sobre dónde y cuándo suceden situaciones de acoso en su escuela. Piense sobre lo que podría resultar útil. Luego, comparta sus ideas. Es muy probable que los adultos no sepan todo lo que sucede. Sus amigos pueden acompañarlo a conversar con un docente, consejero, entrenador o padre y pueden aportar sus opiniones.

Hable con el director sobre cómo participar en la escuela. En ocasiones, las escuelas se muestran abiertas a oír la opinión de los alumnos al implementar programas para detener el acoso. Participe de un comité de seguridad escolar. Cree carteles para su escuela acerca del acoso. Conviértase en un modelo de conducta para los niños más pequeños.

Escriba un blog, una carta al editor de su periódico local o un tuit sobre el acoso.

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Hay cosas que puedes hacer para protegerte y proteger a los niños que conoces del acoso. Descubra más en StopBullying.gov.

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Cómo Ayudar a los niños a enfrentar el hostigamiento

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Cómo Ayudar a los niños a enfrentar el hostigamiento

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Ayudar a los niños a lidiar con acosadores

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Si su hijo está siendo víctima de acoso, debe actuar para ayudar a detenerlo, si es posible. Puede ayudar a su hijo a hacer frente a las burlas, el acoso y los rumores maliciosos y atenuar su impacto.

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Un paquete técnico integral para la prevención de la violencia juvenil y los comportamientos de riesgo asociados.

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Un paquete técnico integral para la prevención de la violencia juvenil y los comportamientos de riesgo asociados.

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Bullying is a form of youth violence and an adverse childhood experience (ACE). CDC defines bullying as any unwanted aggressive behavior(s) by another youth or group of youths, who are not siblings or current dating partners, that involves an observed or perceived power imbalance, and is repeated multiple times or is highly likely to be repeated. Bullying may inflict harm or distress on the targeted youth including physical, psychological, social, or educational harm. Common types of bullying include:

Physical such as hitting, kicking, and tripping

Verbal including name-calling and teasing

Relational/social such as spreading rumors and leaving out of the group

Damage to property of the victim

Bullying can also occur through technology, which is called electronic bullying or cyberbullying. A young person can be a perpetrator, a victim, or both (also known as "bully/victim"). For more information about bullying definitions please see Bullying Surveillance Among Youths: Uniform Definitions for Public Health and Recommended Data Elements, Version 1 [8.64 MB, 116 Pages, 508] .

Bullying is widespread in the United States. Bullying negatively impacts all youth involved including those who are bullied, those who bully others, and those who witness bullying, known as bystanders.

Bullying is common. About 1 in 5 high school students reported being bullied on school property. More than 1 in 6 high school students reported being bullied electronically in the last year.

Some youth experience bullying more than others. Nearly 40% of high school students who identify as lesbian, gay, or bisexual and about 33% of those who were not sure of their sexual identity experienced bullying at school or electronically in the last year, compared to 22% of heterosexual high school students. About 30% of female high school students experienced bullying at school or electronically in the last year, compared to about 19% of males. Nearly 29% of White high school students experienced bullying at school or electronically in the last year compared to about 19% of Hispanic and 18% of Black high school students.

Bullying is a frequent discipline problem. Nearly 14% of public schools report that bullying is a discipline problem occurring daily or at least once a week.

Reports of bullying are highest in middle schools (28%) followed by high schools (16%), combined schools (12%), and primary schools (9%).

Reports of cyberbullying are highest in middle schools (33%) followed by high schools (30%), combined schools (20%), and primary schools (5%).

Bullying can result in physical injury, social and emotional distress, self-harm, and even death. It also increases the risk for depression, anxiety, sleep difficulties, lower academic achievement, and dropping out of school. Youth who bully others are at increased risk for substance misuse, academic problems, and experiencing violence later in adolescence and adulthood. Youth who bully others and are bullied themselves suffer the most serious consequences and are at greater risk for mental health and behavioral problems.

Bullying is preventable. There are many factors that may increase or decrease the risk for perpetrating or experiencing bullying. To prevent bullying, we must understand and address the factors that put people at risk for or protect them from violence. CDC developed, Youth Violence Prevention Resource for Action [4 MB, 64 Pages] , to help communities take advantage of the best available evidence to prevent youth violence. This resource is also Cdc-pdf available in Spanish [3.89 MB, 68 Pages, 508] and can be used as a tool in efforts to impact individual behaviors as well as the relationship, family, school, community, and societal risk and protective factors for violence. The approaches in this resource, particularly universal school-based programs that strengthen youths' skills and modify the physical and social environment, have been shown to reduce violence and bullying or key risk factors.

Different types of violence are connected and often share root causes. Bullying is linked to other forms of violence through shared risk and protective factors. Addressing and preventing one form of violence may have an impact on preventing other forms of violence.

See Youth Violence Resources for articles, publications, data sources, and prevention resources for bullying.

1. Gladden RM, Vivolo-Kantor AM, Hamburger ME, Lumpkin CD. Bullying surveillance among youths: Uniform definitions for public health and recommended data elements, Version 1.0. Atlanta, GA; National Center for Injury Prevention and Control, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and U.S. Department of Education; 2013. Available from https://www.cdc.gov/violenceprevention/pdf/bullying-definitionsfinal-a.pdf.

2. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Youth risk behavior surveillance-United States, 2019. Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report-Surveillance
Summaries 2020; 69(SS1). Available fromhttps://www.cdc.gov/healthyyouth/data/yrbs/pdf/2019/su6901-H.pdf

3. Diliberti, M., Jackson, M., Correa, S., and Padgett, Z. (2019). Crime, Violence, Discipline, and Safety in U.S. Public Schools: Findings From the School Survey on Crime and Safety: 2017-18 (NCES 2019-061). U.S. Department of Education. Washington, DC: National Center for Education Statistics. Retrieved from http://nces.ed.gov/pubsearch.

4. Farrington D, Baldry A. Individual risk factors for school bullying. Journal of Aggression, Conflict and Peace Research 2010; 2(1):4-16. Available from https://doi.org/10.5042/jacpr.2010.0001.

5. David-Ferdon, C., Vivolo-Kantor, A. M., Dahlberg, L. L., Marshall, K. J., Rainford, N. & Hall, J. E. (2016). Youth Violence Prevention Resource for Action: A Compilation of the Best Available Evidence. Atlanta, GA: National Center for Injury Prevention and Control, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Note: The title of this document was changed in July 2023 to align with other Prevention Resources being developed by CDC's Injury Center. The document was previously cited as "A Comprehensive Technical Package for the Prevention of Youth Violence and Associated Risk Behaviors."

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Adolescents & adults often unaware teens experience dating violence

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A bully can turn something like going to the bus stop or recess into a nightmare for kids. Bullying can leave deep emotional scars. And in extreme situations, it can involve violent threats, property damage, or someone getting seriously hurt.

If your child is being bullied, you want to act to help stop it, if possible. You can help your child cope with teasing, bullying, or mean gossip, and lessen its lasting impact. And even if bullying isn't an issue right in your house right now, it's important to discuss it so your kids will be prepared if it does happen.

When Is it Bullying?

Most kids get teased by a sibling or a friend at some point. And it's not usually harmful when done in a playful, friendly, and mutual way, and both kids find it funny. But when teasing becomes hurtful, unkind, and constant, it crosses the line into bullying and needs to stop.

Bullying is when peers intentionally use physical, verbal, or psychological ways to torment someone else, using a real or perceived power imbalance between the bully and the victim. Bullying can range from hitting, shoving, name-calling, threats, and mocking to extorting money and possessions. Some kids bully by shunning others and spreading rumors about them. Others use social media or electronic messaging to taunt others or hurt their feelings.

It's important to take bullying seriously and not just brush it off as something that kids have to "tough out." The effects can be serious and affect kids' sense of safety and self-worth. In severe cases, bullying has contributed to tragedies, such as suicides and school shootings.

Why Do Kids Bully?

Kids bully for a mix of reasons. Sometimes they pick on kids because they need a victim - someone who seems emotionally or physically weaker, or just acts or appears different in some way - to feel more important, popular, or in control. Although some bullies are bigger or stronger than their victims, that's not always the case.

Sometimes kids torment others because that's the way they've been treated. They may think their behavior is normal because they come from families or other settings where everyone regularly gets angry and shouts or calls each other names. Some popular TV shows even seem to promote meanness - people are "voted off," shunned, or ridiculed for their appearance or lack of talent.

What Are the Signs of Bullying?

Unless your child tells you about bullying - or has visible bruises or injuries - it can be hard to know if it's happening.

But there are some warning signs. Parents might notice kids:

acting differently or seeming anxious

not eating, not sleeping well, or not doing the things they usually enjoy

seem moodier or more easily upset than usual

avoiding certain situations (like taking the bus to school)

If you suspect bullying but your child is reluctant to open up, find ways to bring up the issue. For instance, you might see a situation on a TV show and ask, "What do you think of this?" or "What do you think that person should have done?" This might lead to questions like: "Have you ever seen this happen?" or "Have you ever experienced this?" You might want to talk about any experiences you or another family member had at that age.

Let your kids know that if they're being bullied or harassed - or see it happening to someone else - it's important to talk to someone about it, whether it's you, another adult (a teacher, school counselor, or family friend), or a sibling.

What Can Families Do?

If your child tells you about being bullied, listen calmly and offer comfort and support. Kids are often reluctant to tell adults about bullying because they feel embarrassed and ashamed that it's happening, or worry that their parents will be disappointed, upset, angry, or reactive.

Sometimes kids feel like it's their own fault, that if they looked or acted differently it wouldn't be happening. Sometimes they're scared that if the bully finds out that they told, it will get worse. Others are worried that their parents won't believe them or do anything about it. Or kids worry that their parents will urge them to fight back when they're scared to.

Praise your child for doing the right thing by talking to you about it. Remind your child that they're not alone - a lot of people get bullied at some point. Explain that it's the bully who is behaving badly - not your child. Reassure them that you will figure out what to do about it together.

In surveys, most kids and teens say that bullying happens at school. Let someone at school (the principal, school nurse, or a counselor or teacher) know about the situation. Often they can watch and take steps to prevent further problems.

"Bullying" can describe a wide range of situations, so there's no one-size-fits all approach. What works in one situation may not in another. Many things - such as the age of the kids involved, the severity of the situation, and the specific type of bullying behaviors - will help determine the best course of action.

Take it seriously if you hear that the bullying will get worse if the bully finds out that your child told or if threats of physical harm are involved. Sometimes it's useful to approach the bully's parents. But in most cases, teachers or counselors are the best ones to contact first. If you've tried those methods and still want to speak to the bullying child's parents, it's best to do so where a school official, such as a counselor, can mediate.

Most schools have bullying policies and anti-bullying programs. Also, many states have bullying laws and policies. Find out about the laws in your community. In some cases, if you have serious concerns about your child's safety, you may need to contact legal authorities.

Advice for Kids

Parents can help kids learn how to deal with bullying if it happens. For some parents or caregivers, it may be tempting to tell a kid to fight back. After all, you're angry that your child is suffering and maybe you were told to "stand up for yourself" when you were young. Or you may worry that your child will continue to be bullied, and think that fighting back is the only way to put a bully in their place.

But it's important to advise kids not to respond to bullying by fighting or bullying back. It can quickly escalate into violence, trouble, and someone getting injured. Instead, it's best to walk away from the situation, hang out with others, and tell an adult.

Here are some other ways kids can improve the situation and feel better:

Tell an adult. Teachers, principals, parents, and lunchroom personnel at school can all help stop bullying.

Avoid the bully and use the buddy system. Use a different bathroom if a bully is nearby and don't go to your locker if nobody else is around. Make sure you have someone with you so that you're not alone with the bully. Buddy up with a friend on the bus, in the hallways, or at recess - wherever the bully is. Offer to do the same for a friend.

Hold the anger. It's natural to get upset by the bully, but that's what bullies thrive on. It makes them feel more powerful. Practice not reacting by crying or looking red or upset. It takes a lot of practice, but it's a useful skill for keeping off of a bully's radar. Sometimes kids find it useful to practice "cool down" strategies such as counting to 10, writing down their angry words, taking deep breaths, or walking away. Sometimes the best thing to do is to teach kids to keep their face calm until they are clear of any danger (smiling or laughing may provoke the bully).

Act brave, walk away, and ignore the bully. Firmly and clearly tell the bully to stop, then walk away. Practice ways to ignore the hurtful remarks, like acting uninterested or texting someone on your cellphone. By ignoring the bully, you're showing that you don't care. Eventually, the bully will probably get bored with trying to bother you.

Talk about it. Talk to someone you trust, such as a guidance counselor, teacher, sibling, or friend. They may offer some helpful suggestions. Even if they can't fix the situation, it may help you feel a little less alone.

Building Confidence

Dealing with bullying can hurt a child's confidence. To help rebuild it, encourage your kids to spend time with friends who have a positive influence. Participation in clubs, sports, or other enjoyable activities builds strength and friendships.

Provide a listening ear about tough situations, but encourage your kids to also tell you about the good parts of their day, and listen attentively so that open communication becomes a habit for everyone. Make sure they know you believe in them and that you'll do what you can to address any bullying.

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Unfortunately, bullying is a common part of childhood. But parents can help kids cope with it and lessen its lasting impact.

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Information on facts, rights, policies, advocacy and self-advocacy.

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Recursos Para Adultos y Estudiantes Acerca de Bullying

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Recursos Para Adultos y Estudiantes Acerca de Bullying

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Información en la prevención de bullying para educar a padres, maestros y a otros adultos ocupados en la abogacía para niños así como ayudar a los niños a aprender a abogar por sí mismos (auto-abogacía).

Volante del NBPC (Centro Nacional para la Prevención de Bullying de PACER) para clases y eventos

Recursos Generales Acerca de Bullying

Series de Cinco Posters para el Salón de Clases

Recursos para Intervención en una Situación de Bullying

Recursos para Niños con Discapacidades

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Recursos Para Adultos y Estudiantes Acerca de Bullying - National Bullying Prevention Center

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Información en la prevención de bullying para educar a padres, maestros y a otros adultos ocupados en la abogacía para niños así como ayudar a los niños a aprender a abogar por sí mismos (auto-abogacía).

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Bullying & Harassment Prevention & Intervention

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Bullying & Harassment Prevention & Intervention

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Bullying & Harassment Prevention & Intervention

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Definitions

Bullying is defined in the Students Rights and Responsibilities as, "Any aggressive and unwanted behavior that is intended to harm, intimidate, or humiliate the victim; involves a real or perceived power imbalance between the aggressor or aggressors and victim; and is repeated over time or causes severe emotional trauma. "Bullying" includes cyberbullying. "Bullying" does not include ordinary teasing, horseplay, argument, or peer conflict."

Harassment involves emotional abuse and includes verbal or physical threats, physical assaults, bullying and theft of property. When bullying or harassment is targeted at members of religious groups, is based on shared ethnic characteristics, or includes gender and sexual harassment of gay, lesbian, bi-sexual, and transgender individuals it is considered a violation of federal anti-discrimination laws enforced by the Office of Civil Rights. Schools where such behavior is reported will take immediate action to investigate, and if discriminatory behavior has occurred will take action to end the harassment, to eliminate any hostile environment and its effects, and to prevent the harassment from recurring. Any suspected discrimination or harassment must be reported to the Office of Equity and Compliance.

Prevention

Students are taught about bullying as part of the health and counseling curriculum using age-appropriate language and examples. The curriculum expands as the students get older and more mature. The lessons help students better recognize bullying, harassment, sexual harassment, or a hostile environment, and to report them if they experience or witness these behaviors.

Other bullying prevention efforts include the following:

Teaching respectful behavior systematically, starting early, and continuing in a developmentally appropriate and culturally responsive manner.

Recognizing the connection between bullying and mental health by providing mental health services for students in need and implementing evidence-based interventions to improve school climate

Teaching the responsible use of technology with a focus on responsible and respectful online communication.

Teaching bystanders options for helping by raising the awareness of all students and teaching explicit skills (e.g., reporting to an adult, intervening directly if safe to do so, comforting or befriending the target) as part of comprehensive efforts to prevent bullying.

Reporting

FCPS employees are required to report immediately to the principal or designee any instance of bullying the staff member becomes aware of or witnesses. When a bullying allegation is reported to school administration, the Students Rights and Responsibilities states, "The principal is responsible for investigating and documenting all allegations of bullying. All allegations (whether founded or not) of bullying, including supporting information, shall be recorded in the Bullying and Harassment Management System (BHMS). In connection with any allegation of bullying, and within five school days of the initial report of such to a school official, the principal shall furnish notice regarding the status of the investigation to the parent/guardian of each student allegedly involved."

FCPS expects and encourages students, parents or guardians, and others who witness or become aware of an instance of bullying involving a student to report it to the principal or designee. Reporting may occur by way of scheduling an in-person appointment, phone call, electronic communication such as email, or utilization of the school's anonymous bullying reporting tool.

Before fully investigating the allegations of bullying or retaliation, the principal or designee will take steps to assess the need to restore a sense of safety for the alleged target and protect them from possible further incidents. Responses to promote safety will include notifying parents/guardians that a report of bullying has been received and may include, but not be limited to:

Creating a personal safety or intervention plan

Pre-determining seating arrangements for the target and/or the perpetrator in the classroom, at lunch, or on the bus

Identifying a staff member who will act as a "trusted adult" for the target

Modifying the perpetrator's schedule and access to the target

This is not an exhaustive list, and actions to create a safe environment will be tailored to the unique circumstances and needs of each individual student and incident.

Investigations

The principal or designee will promptly investigate all reports of bullying and, in doing so, will consider all available information including the nature of the allegations and the ages of the perpetrator and target involved.

During the investigation, the principal or designee will, among other things, interview students, staff, witnesses, parents or guardians, and others as necessary. The principal or designee will remind the alleged perpetrator, target, and witnesses that retaliation is strictly prohibited and will result in disciplinary action.

Upon concluding the investigation, the principal or designee will determine whether the bullying allegation is founded based upon all the available evidence. If the allegation is founded, the principal or designee will take steps reasonably determined to prevent recurrence.

The principal or designee will promptly notify the parents or guardians of the target and the perpetrator about the results of the investigation and, if bullying is found, communicate what actions are being taken to prevent further acts of bullying.

All investigation findings are documented in the Bullying and Harassment Management System.

Documentation

The FCPS Bullying and Harassment Management System (BHMS) is an electronic database that school-based administrators are required to use to document school responses to allegations of student-on-student bullying or harassment. The database was designed and implemented during the 2014-15 academic year to accomplish the following:

Document school responses to allegations of bullying and/or harassment

Guide the implementation of appropriate prevention and intervention strategies to ensure the safety of students

Inform the development of universal preventative supports, targeted interventions, and consistent responses across the division.

When entering an allegation, BHMS allows administrators to choose from the following six (6) types of allegations as an additional overall datapoint to cluster the type of allegations received:

Bullying

Cyberbullying

Discriminatory Harassment

Sexual Harassment

Sexual Misconduct

If an allegation of sexual harassment has been reported, the school-based administrator is required to contact the Title IX Office for further guidance.

In addition to documenting investigation notes and allegation findings, BHMS enables school-based administrators to document interim supportive measures and interventions. Interim supportive measures are actions taken to protect the target student and the alleged aggressor before, during, and after the investigation to ensure they can access their instruction in a safe environment. Examples of supportive measures include, but are not limited to, changing class schedules, separating the target student and alleged aggressor in public areas, and frequent check-ins with the target student. Interventions are supports or actions implemented to resolve the identified situation and may include the continuation of actions implemented as supportive measures as well as other actions such as those listed below:

Parent Conference

Referral to IEP Team

Referral to 504 Knowledgeable Committee

Restorative Justice Conference

Consult with Police

Referral to Law Enforcement

Referral to School Counselor, School Psychologist, or School Social Worker

School Response

The creation of school environments where every student feels a sense of belonging is integral to student success. To this end, FCPS institute procedures to provide a safe environment at all times of the school day for students who have been targets of substantiated allegations of bullying, as well as perpetrators of said actions as needed to restore a safe and supportive learning environment for all students.

The school administrator, counselor, psychologist, and/or social worker will work with all involved students to accomplish the following:

Ensure that the student who bullied will understand that such behaviors are unacceptable, and understand the potential harm and impact of the behaviors.

Ensure safety of the target and provide coaching on reporting and addressing any such behavior in the future.

Ensure that bystanders understand that they have a responsibility to report bullying to school staff, and learn effective strategies for intervening when they see bullying behavior in the future.

In some cases, the administrator may invite students and parents and/or guardians to participate in a Restorative Justice conference in an attempt to give the students a deeper understanding of the impact of their behavior, to develop empathy, and to provide an opportunity for the student to take responsibility for the harm caused and work on a way to restore the damaged relationship. Parents and/or guardians and students meet first with a trained facilitator to gain an understanding of the process, and are given an opportunity to decide whether or not to participate. Participation is always voluntary. With support and trained facilitation, the target of the bullying (and the student's parents and/or guardians) is given an opportunity to explain the impact of the bullying in a safe environment. In this way, the underlying issues can be resolved and are much less likely to resurface again for the students.

In addition to the previously mentioned interventions, school administration may assign a disciplinary consequence to the perpetrator appropriate to the nature of the conduct, the age of the target and perpetrator, and the need to balance accountability with the teaching of appropriate behavior. Incidents involving substantial threats or assault will also be reported to the police. When a student with a disability is involved in a bullying incident, a referral to the individualized education program (IEP) team to consider additional interventions may also be made.

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Through school-wide positive behavior approaches and participation in K-12 health and guidance lessons students are taught to behave respectfully and to resolve conflicts in positive ways.

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School Psychology Services

Our school psychologists are mental health specialists with knowledge of child development, the psychology of learning, behavior management and intervention, monitoring progress of students, and program evaluation. Our psychologist school assignments are listed here.

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Office of Communication and Community Relations

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Bullying and Harassment Intervention and Prevention Webinar

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Bullying and Harassment Intervention and Prevention Webinar

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Bullying and Harassment Intervention and Prevention Webinar

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How to talk to kids about racism: An age-by-age guide

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How to talk to kids about racism: An age-by-age guide

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Explaining race and racism to kids can feel like a minefield for parents, but it doesn't have to. Here's our age-by-age guide to handling this topic.

Photo: iStockphoto

Have you talked to your kids about race and racism? Maybe you think they're still too young or that a specific conversation isn't really necessary?

They're never too young, and an ongoing dialogue about race and racism is a really good idea, says Rachel Berman, graduate program director of the School of Early Childhood Studies at Ryerson University in Toronto and a researcher on a project called Can We Talk About Race? Confronting Colour-Blindness in Early Childhood Settings. "Children need adults to help them develop respect for and acceptance of others," she says. "Not talking about race and racism sends a message to children that this is a taboo topic, no matter what their age." What's more, she adds, kids who may be targets of racism may need help negotiating their feelings and figuring out how to respond to what they're experiencing.

But how do you start the conversation? Each age group has different needs. Read on for ways to broach the subject with your child.

Infants and toddlers Babies are born blank slates, but studies show that they react differently to racial differences, even by six months of age, notes Berman. "The idea that talking openly to children about race and racism isn't appropriate because children are too young and innocent or because it will 'create racism' (or perhaps you'll say the wrong thing) is just not the case," she explains.

To counteract any prejudicial messages kids might receive, create an environment where they can learn about the differences and similarities between people of different races, cultures and religions at an early age, says Karen Mock, an educational psychologist and human rights consultant in Toronto. Read them picture books and show them TV shows and movies that celebrate kids of all colours, cultures and religions, but include examples of these kids doing everyday things so that they won't see difference as exotic. Role-model interracial and interfaith interactions, and actively seek out diverse playgroups and child care, says Annette Henry, the David Lam Chair in Multicultural Education and a professor in the department of language and literacy education at the University of British Columbia.

Also, be ready to answer questions. "Children as young as two or three may start asking about differences, such as disabilities, gender and physical characteristics like skin colour and hair," explains Berman. What's the best way to respond to their curiosity? Henry recalls an experience that left her impressed with the mother's response to her daughter's observation. "I was at a supermarket and this little girl, who must have been about three years old, said to her mom, 'Mommy, look at the brown lady.' They were white. Her mom said, 'Oh, yes, and isn't she beautiful?' I thought, that's a smart mom, celebrating difference instead of calling it out and saying 'Isn't it wonderful that we're all different?'"

PreschoolersAt around age three, kids start to use race, among other things, to make decisions about who to play with, says Berman. They do so thanks to biases they've unconsciously developed or because they reason that people who look like them are more like them. Kids this age may also make hurtful statements that parents need to be prepared to respond to. "If a child makes a comment about another child, like 'Her skin looks dirty,' don't quiet her or change the subject," says Berman. "Instead, ask your child why she thinks that and explain that darker skin isn't dirty. Take your child's comments and questions seriously." Parents should be very careful about passing on their own biases and prejudices before kids even understand the concept of racism, says Shimi Kang, a psychiatrist and medical director of child and youth mental health for Vancouver Coastal Health's community programs.

School-aged kidsWhen kids start school, their circle of exposure widens, which means that they may need more explicit guidance about race and racism. Kids this age are already getting subtle, often unspoken messages from TV, movies and politicians about who has power and who is valued in our society, says Berman. We must start teaching them to be critical readers and viewers. One way to do so is by asking them questions like "Are there certain groups who never get to be the hero in comic books and movies?" and "Who gets to be considered 'pretty'?"

One book that Berman recommends for kids in grades one to five is Let's Talk About Race by Julius Lester. It delves into our differences and similarities, and it's the latter that resonates with kids this age, she explains.

This is also a time when we can begin to teach kids ways to combat racism and prejudice. But to do so, parents may have to first introduce them to the idea that some people get treated unfairly based on their skin colour, culture or religion. Henry suggests telling them about Viola Desmond, a black woman who challenged racial segregation in Nova Scotia in 1946 and who will be the first Canadian woman to be featured on a $10 bill. Desmond's story bolsters the idea that people can make a change based on their actions-something that Kang says is important to emphasize when talking to kids about injustice so that they feel empowered to make a change.

It's important to keep details age-appropriate, says Berman. For example, we can tell kids about the injustice faced by indigenous peoples who were forced into residential schools and explain that their hair was cut against their will and they weren't allowed to speak their own languages, but we don't need to mention the sexual abuse many of them faced.

It's necessary to help kids realize that racism and prejudice aren't confined to the past. When it comes to current events, Kang suggests that you tell kids the truth, giving them age-appropriate information, but let them lead the conversation. "Ask your kids about what they are interested in knowing about the story," she recommends. "They may not want to know all of the details. And reassure them because kids' first thing is fear."

Henry notes that parents are on a wide spectrum when it comes to their comfort and knowledge in talking to kids about racism and prejudice, but we must approach this subject head-on if we want to change the world. "This is a moment when we have to help our kids understand what their role is going to be as future adult Canadians," she says, "and it starts now."

Tweens and teens Older kids can have more in-depth conversations around issues of racism and prejudice and the role they may play in supporting them. At this age, you can have more sophisticated discussions on topics such as Black Lives Matter and racial profiling, says Henry. Your tween or teen may also be spending time online, which increases their risk of getting incorrect facts. "Parents have to be in tune with where their children are getting their information," notes Kang. "It's very easy to end up on a Twitter stream where there's a lot of hate. But it is desensitizing, so parents of older kids should really watch out for extreme views." Parents should encourage their kids to think critically about any source and, if you believe your children's views are extreme, try to correct any myths they have.

This article was originally published on Feb 09, 2017

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How to talk to kids about racism: An age-by-age guide - Today's Parent

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Explaining race and racism can feel like a minefield for parents, but it doesn't have to. Here's our age-by-age guide on how to talk to kids about racism.

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Talking to Young Children About Race and Racism

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Talking to Young Children About Race and Racism

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Talking to Young Children About Race and Racism

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Here are tips, books, and resources to help you have meaningful conversations with young children about race, racism, and anti-racist behavior.

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Talking to your child about slurs: When words hurt

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Talking to your child about slurs: When words hurt

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Slurs can hurt, learn how you can help. (Image: Adobe Stock/Illustration: David Chrisom, Boston Children's)

Imagine the following scenarios:

You're walking down the street with your teenage son and an adult in a passing car yells a racial slur out the window at you.

You're at your local playground you overhear your daughter direct an anti-gay slur at another child.
As a parent, what do you do?
"These conversations are often not easy to have with our children, but they're really important," says Nikki Tennermann, a social worker and administrative director of the Office of Health Equity and Inclusion at Boston Children's Hospital.

Tennermann says that when children hear slurs directed at them, their family members, or someone in a similar group, it can have a negative effect on their identity development. "It can lead to negative internalized feelings, and make them feel like something is bad or different about them."

So, how do you have these conversations with your children? For help, we turned to Tennermann and her colleagues, Rehana Rahman, a clinical social worker in the AWAKE Program at Boston Children's Hospital, and Haidee Cano, a clinical social worker at the Martha Eliot Health Center.

What can a parent do if a slur is directed at their child?

Tennermann: I would remind parents to stay calm. If it seems like the situation might be volatile, walk away. It's better to teach your kids to walk away and be safe, and talk with them privately when you're in a safe place. Walking away is not teaching your child that slurs are okay - it's teaching them about safety and resilience in the face of hatred.

Rahman: It also depends in part on the context. If it's another child using the slur, the parent could step in and intervene, but only if they feel comfortable doing so. You could explain to the child that the word they said is hurtful. If this is happening in a school setting, whether in the classroom or on the playground, you should bring it to the attention of the school administration.

Cano: I think it's always best to come from a place of curiosity, such as asking if they know what that word means. Sometimes kids say these words because they think it's funny and don't really understand the meaning behind it. If this is the case, you can explain that the word isn't humorous and is actually hurtful. You can also teach your kids to use a similar retort with other kids, such as, "We don't use words like that. It's inappropriate and unkind." Or "I don't appreciate you using that word or I don't appreciate you calling me that."

What do you say to your child after such an incident?

Tennermann: For young children, focus on what is fair or just. You can tell them that it's not fair for people to make assumptions about them based on their race or color of their skin. It's also a good time to reinforce positive thinking about themselves. For example, you could say something like, "We are proud of our heritage and identity, and even if people say hurtful things, it doesn't affect who we are."

For preteens and older kids, you can ask them what they know about these words and how it makes them feel. Have an open discussion about your own feelings, and reinforce that it's not right for others to use hurtful words.

Cano: If your child or another child in your life experiences a slur and comes to you about it, remember to validate their experience and their feelings in that moment. That piece is huge.

What if your child is the one using a slur?

Tennermann: First, I would set clear expectations that you are not okay with it. You can say something like, "this is not language we use in our household." Then you can explain why these words are hurtful. For example, I recently talked about anti-Asian hate with my daughter and explained that just as we don't want people to treat us differently because we're Black, we don't treat people differently because they're Asian.

Cano: You can also approach this conversation from a place of curiosity. Ask questionsso you can understand where this is coming from. Start by asking your child where they heard the word and if they know what it means. You can then explain why it shouldn't be used, such as the history of the word, if known, and how oftentimes these words are rooted in misinformation. In some cases, kids pick up this language from someone else in the family. If this is the case, you may need to have a difficult conversation with other family members and reiterate what your values are as family.

Teaching children the difference between intention versus impact is important. "Even if it was not your intention to hurt your friend with your words, the impact you had is that you hurt them." Children should take ownership of their wrongdoing and apologize to the person it was directed towards. And for older children, you can follow-up these conversations with more in-depth conversations about historical events surrounding ignorance and bigotry.

Rahman: If racism and bigotry isn't part of a discussion at home or within the school setting, sometimes children don't know slurs are not appropriate. At home you can create a space of curiosity by allowing children to ask questions. And if your school is not talking about racism and bigotry, suggest they do. For example, they can have kids talk about what it's like to come from different backgrounds and celebrate their differences.

What else can parents do?

Tennermann: As Rehana said, I think it's important to have regular conversations about racism and bigotry in your family. Talk about the fact that racism and bigotry exist, even if it doesn't affect your family. These are hard topics you might not want to address with your kids, but these are conversations that need to happen.

Rahman: Families who hold marginalized identities are already having a lot of these discussions, but we need to shift the focus to those in the dominant culture. Those families need to have these conversations as well.

Cano: Even if you have never had to deal with racism directly, you can still think about a time you were treated differently because of your gender or another trait. You can talk about that with your kids and how that experience made you feel. There are also some online resources that also offer helpful tips for parents, including the American Psychological Association and PBS.

Rahman: I also want to mention that it's important to take care of yourself. These discussions can be incredibly difficult, especially for parents who are triggered because of their own experiences. If you need help, make sure to seek out support for yourself.

Read more on racism and the Office of Health Equity and Inclusion at Boston Children's.

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Talking to your child about slurs: When words hurt - Boston Children's Answers

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Imagine the following scenarios: You're walking down the street with your teenage son and an adult in a passing car yells a racial slur out the window at you. You're at your local playground you overhear your daughter direct an anti-gay slur at another child. As a parent, what do you do?

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The Body Safety Program is taught FREE of charge in elementary schools, child care centers, community centers and other group settings for children in Pre-K to sixth grade. It is a school-based program that focuses on building safety skills within the child, preparing them to identify risks such as:

The curriculum, Childhelp® Speak Up Be Safe, gives children a comfortable, non-alarming way to talk about the sensitive and complex problem of child abuse:

Children learn how to prevent or interrupt abuse, empowering them to act if they are threatened or victimized.

Trained facilitators lead the interactive presentation which takes about 45 - 60 minutes including an age appropriate video.

Handouts and online resources reinforce learning and engage families in discussion about personal safety and abuse.

The Body Safety Program Offers Virtual Classes
The Body Safety Program is now offering virtual classes to any Pre-K through sixth grade students living in Fairfax County. If you are interested in learning more about or scheduling a virtual class(es), contact one of the Body Safety Program staff by email or call 703-324-7459.

Virtual Classes

Available virtually via a preferred platform.

Shorter sessions (30 minutes-1 hour).

Emphasis on online safety.

Include an interactive component via chat or video chime in from students.

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Fairfax County, Virginia - The Body Safety Program is a free school-based program that focuses on building safety skills within the child, preparing them to identify risks such as bullying, internet safety and child abuse.

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A Guide to Modern Tech Safety for Kids and Teens

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A Guide to Modern Tech Safety for Kids and Teens

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Modern kids and teens are spending more time online than ever before.

A recent study found that teenagers currently spend more than eight and a half hours a day online outside of school, and younger children average five hours of screen time each day. So much of our children's world is online nowadays, so it is vital that they know how to navigate the internet safely.

New tech also presents new challenges. Tablets, iPads, and some wearable tech bring unique risks that parents must be aware of before allowing their children access to this technology.

In this article, we will give you a rundown of the state of the internet today, and dive into the potential threats your child may face online.

How Kids and Teens Are Using Tech

Understanding the way your kid uses their devices is the first step to protecting them online.

Tablets and iPads

In essence, tablet computers have an operating system very similar to smartphones, with the same mobility, but more processing power. However, tablets tend to rely on wi-fi connectivity versus data usage, therefore accessibility to the internet and apps is a possibility, opening up the risk of dangerous content.

Computers

Desktop computers and laptops will be commonplace as your child advances through school. Many modern kids and teenagers use their computers largely for academics and video gaming. It's important to be aware of the risks that come with using a computer at school.

Managing Your Child's Screen Time

The American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychology recommends that children over the age of six maintain healthy boundaries around screen time and minimize non-educational screen usage as much as possible, and that screen time be limited for young children under the age of five. Extended screen time can lead to mood swings, disrupted sleep, and withdrawal from family and friends.

High quality educational apps and services can help encourage your child's love for learning. Your local library may even have ebook and audiobook rental apps that you can use for free! Proactively setting limits on screen time can help your child maintain healthy boundaries as they mature and avoid technology addiction.

Popular Apps Your Child May Be Using

These are some of the most common social media apps your child may be using.

TikTok

TikTok is a video-sharing app that is hugely popular among teens and kids. On TikTok, users can create short videos that range from fifteen seconds to three minutes long. The app has been criticized for being "addictive," as its finely-tuned algorithm aims to get users watching for as long as possible. TikTok also has harmful content and child grooming, making it unsafe for children.

Instagram

Instagram is a photo-sharing app that also has video capability. Owned by Meta, this network allows users to post selfies, landscapes, and any other photo they want to share. As of 2023, it was the most popular app for influencers. Instagram contributes to body dissatisfaction and unhealthy social comparisons.

BeReal

BeReal is a real-time photo sharing app that encourages its users to post unfiltered photos of themselves alongside what is in front of them once a day. The aim of this app is to "show unfiltered moments" and create a more authentic news feed than other social media apps. It can lead to an unhealthy focus on screens, rather than what is happening around a child.

Snapchat

Snapchat is a photo-messaging app that automatically deletes messages once they have been read. Many teens use it as a form of texting, carrying on regular conversations, and maintaining daily snap streaks by sending and opening "snaps" with each other at least once a day. Snapchat's security, though, is lacking - and may leave your child at risk. Snapchat is also known for facilitating cyberbullying.

Cyberbullying

When navigating the online world, your child may encounter cyberbullying. It is imperative that you are educated on the signs of cyberbullying and know how to protect your child from online bullies. Cyberbullying can take many forms, and can be easy to hide - so you need to know what to look for.

What Is Cyberbullying?

Cyberbullying is a form of bullying that takes place entirely online. Cyberbullying can happen in message rooms, on social media, in video games, and direct communications. The aim of cyberbullies is to make their victim feel ashamed, scared, or ostracized from their social group.

The cyberbullies may send abusive or threatening messages directly to their victim, or spread rumors about them on social media. They may post embarrassing or private photos of their victim and encourage others to leave hurtful comments. They may also "catfish" their victim, where they pretend to be another person in order to get close to somebody; conversely, they may use their victim's photos to impersonate them online and make them look bad.

Though cyberbullying looks different from case to case, any form of online harassment can be considered cyberbullying. Online bullying is unfortunately common among modern kids and teens, and often accompanies real-life bullying. However, unlike in-person bullying, cyberbullying leaves a written record of what's happened.

Signs Your Child is Being Cyberbullied

Though cyberbullying can sometimes fly under a parent's radar, there are some telltale symptoms that your child may be facing online harassment.

If your child seems overly sensitive to change, experiences mood swings, or becomes extremely protective of their phones or devices, these may be signs that cyberbullying is affecting them. Being the victim of a cyberbullying campaign can cause children to withdraw from their daily lives, internalizing the message that their bullies pass along.

How to Prevent Cyberbullying

Though there aren't many surefire ways to prevent cyberbullying, you can lower the chances that it will happen to your child. Being cognizant of your child's internet activity and staying involved in their online endeavors, especially while they're young, can help you spot the signs of harassment early.

Emphasize that your child should only talk to people they know in real life while online. Make sure your child knows how to adjust their privacy settings, how to report harmful comments, and when to log off and walk away.

How to Address Cyberbullying

It's important to respond once cyberbullying has happened. First, make sure your child knows that you are there to help them. Tell your child that you appreciate them coming to you and are going to help. It is imperative that your child feels safe and protected during this ordeal.

If the cyberbullying is happening on social media, show your child how to block and report the bullies' accounts. Also walk through their privacy settings to make sure their posts are only viewable by friends. If the bullying is severe, it's possible law enforcement might need to get involved. You may encourage your child to simply leave social media for some time.

If the cyberbullying is being perpetrated by kids your child knows in real life, alert their parents to the cyberbullying as well. You may want to loop in the school administration in order to discuss the bullying and work together to find a solution.

Protecting Your Child from Online Predators

It's an uncomfortable truth that there are people online who may try to harm your child. Whether the person is a bully, a doxxer, or a predator, children must be taught to be vigilant about their online safety.
What Not to Share Online
Have frequent conversations with your child about information that they should never share online, especially to a stranger. This information includes:

● Their home address

● Their school

● Passwords

● Their phone number

● Driver's license number

● Their parent's full names

Explain to your child why it's important to keep this information confidential, even if they think they can trust someone they met online. Teach them the signs of an online predator, and encourage them to trust any "gut feelings" they get about people online.

Maintaining Location Privacy

Walk through the location settings of all your child's apps, and show them how to ensure their location is off at all times. Also emphasize the importance of not giving out information about where they live to strangers.

What to Do if Your Child is Approached Online

Parents can help prepare children to begin to recognize online predators. Have a thorough conversation with your child about "tricky people," and how some people may try to gain their trust only to hurt them later on.

Regardless of the platform, block and report the person who is approaching your child. Be aware of which app or website your child was approached on, and keep an eye out for patterns of inappropriate behavior on those sites.

When children know that they can come to you with uncomfortable worries and problems they encounter online, they are more likely to ask for help. Parents can create safe spaces for their children to disclose anything that makes them feel uneasy.

Protecting Your Child from Adult Content

Adult content is readily available on all corners of the internet, from graphic and disturbing videos, to sexual content. If not protected, your child may come across a piece of media that they are not mature enough to understand.

Utilizing parental controls on your child's devices may help keep your child from seeing harmful content. You can block whole apps and websites, and set ratings limits on the games they can download and videos they can buy. Unfortunately, most parental control software is easily bypassed and ineffective.

When your child does come across adult content, be ready to have an open and honest conversation about what they've seen and how to process it.

What the Future of Tech Holds for Kids and Teens

The technology world is constantly innovating, with new devices and programs coming out every year. One exciting development is the adoption of new tech in education curriculums, with digital literacy becoming a cornerstone of modern education standards. Your child will likely continue to use new forms of technology in the classroom, and will possibly utilize them at home as well.

As augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) become more popular and accessible, these may become the new frontier in technology. Parental controls in AR/VR worlds are still being developed, but the best way to stay on top of these new forms of tech is by staying informed.

Preparing Kids for Success

As technology advances and tech companies begin to cater to children and teens more and more, we can prepare our children to stay safer online. Protecting their privacy, staying away from age-inappropriate content, and managing screen time limits are just the beginning of internet safety rules. With more advanced technology comes new sets of rules, and healthy conversations around tech use set kids up for success.

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A Guide to Modern Tech Safety for Kids and Teens

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Discover tips to protect your devices in the digital realm. This Tech Safety Guide provides practical strategies to safeguard your kids' online presence from cyber threats.

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Emotional and Mental Wellness for Families

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Emotional and Mental Wellness for Families

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Experiences of racism

Racism can happen anywhere. It can happen at school, at work or at home; it can happen online or in-person; it can even happen within families and relationships.

Sometimes racist abuse is obvious - for example, verbal abuse about the way someone looks, stereotypes about how someone might behave, or physical violence and bullying. Sometimes racism is part of the structures and systems that we live in. And sometimes it is 'subtle' and difficult for other people to notice.

Your child may also experience racism 'indirectly' - as the things going on around us, to people just like us, can feel like they have happened to us and make us feel personally attacked, helpless, or like our lives don't matter.

Racism, directly or indirectly, touches every person of colour and has an effect on our mental health.

The important thing for you and your child is how you see the situation and how it makes you feel - not what other people think or say about it.
We can spend a lot of time wondering whether we have been badly or unfairly treated because of our skin colour, race or ethnicity, or for some other reason, and it's not always totally clear. This can make us feel confused or even foolish for talking about our experiences, especially if the people we are talking to have never had to ask themselves these sorts of questions.

Sometimes, even when we are convinced we have experienced racist treatment, people around us might try to tell us we've got it wrong. This can feel very lonely and isolating. But remember, you are not alone and your feelings are valid.

If your child is struggling with the impact of racism on their mental health or wellbeing, there are things you can do to help them - including providing emotional support, working on practical strategies together and finding the right professional help if they need it.

How to support your child with their experiences of racism

Talking to your child about racism can feel like a difficult conversation, and it may bring up feelings of confusion, anger, hopelessness or isolation for you or your child. If you are feeling unsure about the conversation, you can read our guide to find lots of tips on starting a conversation with your child.

This can help them to feel empowered, reminding them that what they are experiencing is not okay and that no one should believe it is. You or your child can report any hate crime online via the True Vision website.

If you're experiencing racism online, reporting it is perfectly reasonable and the right thing to do because racial discrimination is illegal.

Young people tell us it helps to...

go on a social media detox - your mental health is important

take time for some self-care and do something for yourself - such as reading a book, playing a video game or watching some TV

do your research on your history and learn to love yourself and other people of your race

not put pressure on yourself - this is a problem you cannot solve on your own

talk to other people you trust

join a movement to create change

find supportive groups and communities who understand what you are going through

do physical exercise

learn mindfulness and yoga

speak up to your parents or other family members or even friends if they're being racist - you should never be afraid to speak up about something if it's wrong

It is the world that's wrong, not you. So embrace your identity and love what makes you, you.

Signs that racism is affecting your child's mental health

It is normal if your child's experiences of racism - whether big or small, constant or one-off, direct or indirect - affect their self-esteem or make them feel angry, low or hopeless. When they're going through this, validate just how difficult it is, reassure them they're not alone and remind them that while it might feel difficult to believe, things can get better.

If your child is struggling with their mental health over a longer period of time, they may need some more support - from you and from professionals if needed. If experiences of racism are more seriously affecting your child's mental health, they may:

have a continuously low mood, depression or low self-esteem

feel numb or empty inside

experience changes to their sleeping or eating habits

show changes to their mood and behaviour that feel out of the ordinary

feel worried or anxious a lot of the time

have a negative attitude towards their body image or ethnic identity relating to skin tone, hair texture, or the size and shape of facial and bodily features

experience flashbacks or intrusive thoughts about a traumatic incident

If your child is experiencing some of these things, it's a good idea to speak to your GP. You can find our tips on finding professional help below.

There is currently a huge discrepancy in racial equality which is why I think it's really important that we battle racism, so that everyone can live without fear or prejudice.

Where to find professional help

There are different places where you can find help for your child. Your GP, your child's school and considering whether counselling or therapy might help are good places to start.

You can find out more about speaking to GPs, finding a counsellor or therapist, accessing CAMHS, getting help from your child's school and finding local services on our guide to getting support from mental health services.

What can I do if I think a mental health professional is being racist?

Any mental health professional who you are interacting with has a duty of care to do their best to support you. If you are not happy with how a mental health professional is behaving towards you, you have a right to speak out.

How to raise a complaint:

Every NHS service provider (such as your GP or local hospital) has their own complaints procedure. You can find information on making a complaint on your service provider's website, in waiting rooms, or by talking to a member of staff.

You can choose to complain to the NHS service provider directly, or to the commissioner of the services, which is the body that pays for the NHS services you use.

You can make a complaint verbally, in writing, or by email.

Once you have made a complaint, you should expect an acknowledgement and the offer of a discussion about the handling of your complaint within working days.

Visit the NHS webpage on making complaints for more guidance.

If you need help and support with making a complaint, you can contact your local NHS Complaints Advocacy service. This is a free and confidential service, independent from the NHS. Contact your local council to find out who the advocacy provider is in your area.

Tips for looking after yourself as a parent

Where to find further support

Useful helplines and websites

While we take care to ensure that the organisations we signpost to provide high quality information and advice, we cannot take responsibility for any specific pieces of advice they may offer. We encourage parents and carers to always explore the website of a linked service or organisation to understand who they are and what support they offer before engaging with them.

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Racism & Mental Health | Guide For Parents

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If your child experiences racism, it can negatively affect their mental health. Here are some ways you can support them and places you can get help.

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When cyberbullying happens, it is important to document and report the behavior so it can be addressed.

Steps to Take Immediately

Don't respond to and don't forward cyberbullying messages.

Keep evidence of cyberbullying. Record the dates, times, and descriptions of instances when cyberbullying has occurred. Save and print screenshots, emails, and text messages. Use this evidence to report cyberbullying to web and cell phone service providers and social media sites.

Block the person who is cyberbullying.

Report Cyberbullying to Online Service Providers

Cyberbullying often violates the terms of service established by social media sites and internet service providers.

Review their terms and conditions or rights and responsibilities sections. These describe content that is or is not appropriate.

Visit social media safety centers to learn how to block users and change settings to control who can contact you.

Report cyberbullying to the social media site so they can take action against users abusing the terms of service.

Report Cyberbullying to Law Enforcement

When cyberbullying involves these activities it is considered a crime and should be reported to law enforcement:

Threats of violence

Child pornography or sending sexually explicit messages or photos

Taking a photo or video of someone in a place where he or she would expect privacy

Stalking and hate crimes

Some states consider other forms of cyberbullying criminal. Consult your state's laws and law enforcement for additional guidance.

Report Cyberbullying to Schools

Cyberbullying can create a disruptive environment at school and is often related to in-person bullying. The school can use the information to help inform prevention and response strategies.

In many states, schools are required to address cyberbullying in their anti-bullying policy. Some state laws also cover off-campus behavior that creates a hostile school environment.

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Steps to take for documenting and reporting cyberbullying.

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Bullying Trauma & the Healing Power of the Brain

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Bullying Trauma & the Healing Power of the Brain

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Getting bullied is a traumatic experience for a child. It diminishes self-esteem, leaves kids feeling depressed and anxious, and can have long-lasting effects. And, of course, modern technology creates more opportunities for bullying than ever before.

Why do kids torture each other this way? It's normal for children to have some aggression. The question is how much they have, what they do with it, what parents are teaching them at home about it, and what's being modeled for that child in terms of managing aggression. Kids who are bullied at home are far more likely to go out and bully other kids.

But the number of kids who bully others because they truly have sociopathy brewing, or are oppositional defiant kids, who may in fact derive gratification from the pain of others, is a relatively small number compared to the amount of bullying that goes on.

Others, and this is particularly true for girls, who may actually have a high social IQ and know how to work a system, will use bullying for power, to fortify their position. Here again, parents are influential. Are the parents expecting this child to be the powerful one? Are they sending either overt or covert messages that they want their child to be important, to be popular, to be feared?

Insecurity can also drive bullying - the feeling that unless you bully you will be the powerless one.

Also, unfortunately, there are now many more opportunities for bullying. Certainly the Internet and cell phones and all the social networking technology have opened up this whole arena of ways to bully. In some ways cyberbullying is more insidious and scary, from the perspective of an adult, in that it's 24/7.

A child who's being bullied at school at least comes home at some point and is safe with her family. With the computer that potentially never goes away: at any time you could turn it on and find that someone has written something to shame and humiliate you, and you might not even know who is doing that to you.

Here are some tips on how to talk to kids about bullying:

1. Forewarn your child.
Talk to your child about what bullying is, the signs of bullying, and whether or not it's going on. Make sure she knows that if something happens, in school or online, she should tell you, and you will support her and together figure out how to work it out. If something is happening online, it's especially important that she NOT respond before telling you about it. With bullying, it's critical to not engage, to not feed it by being exactly who the perpetrator is looking for - someone she can get a rise out of. And she should NOT erase the hurtful post before talking to you. It should be saved somewhere, because sometimes you need to collect evidence of what's been going on.

2. Fortify your child.
Make it clear that bullying says less about the victims personally than it does about the bully. This kid has a problem and others have to learn how to deflect and contain this problem, and not feed what's going on. Explain that the worst way to respond is a sort of mob mentality - other children who are afraid of being targets will join with the bully and abandon the victim. Teach your child to resist the herd effect, not to pile on when someone else is being bullied. If she has the strength to support her friends, they will find the nerve to support her.

3. Practice appropriate responses.
If you've had conversations with your child before bullying starts, she'll be more likely to come to you if she becomes a target. That gives you a chance to have a dialogue and role-play with her at home. So-and-so said this; okay, what are a couple of lines she can say if it happens again? When a child is insulted or humiliated, she is likely to be stunned, and you want to help make sure she doesn't react in a way that adds fuel to the fire. It helps to come up, in advance, with four lines she can say, that she feels comfortable with, to deflect what is going on. You can also think together about people or friends she can confide in, and hope for support from.

4. Find allies.
Encourage your child to make a deal with his friends: If you stick up for me, I'll stick up for you. Data shows that the most effective way to combat bullying is for bystanders to step in and say, "Hey, that's my friend; don't do that."

5. Talk to your school.
The most effective way to arm children against bullying is for schools to start educating kids about it, and many are. They start in first grade with bullying education: What is bullying? How do we support our peers? What is treating somebody with respect? What is empathy? You have them try empathy on for size, and sticking up for each other. The lesson is that if everybody wants to avoid being a target, they can only do that by hanging together.

As a parent, think about talking to your school, whether your kid is being bullied or not, because bullying education, if it's made developmentally appropriate through the years, is the best weapon. If your child is being stalked or threatened with violence you should contact the police as well as the school. In extreme cases, bullying can become a criminal matter and your top priority is the welfare of your child.

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How to Arm Your Child Against Bullying - Child Mind Institute

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Read advice on bullying. Child Mind Institute teaches you how to talk to kids about bullying. Learn the signs of bullying and tips to support your child.

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How to Protect Your Child from Cyberbullying

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How to Protect Your Child from Cyberbullying

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Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words (and texts, and images, and stolen passwords) will never hurt me.
That playground chant never rang true, even when updated for the information age. Bullying hurts just as much online. And it's far more common than other risks to children who use the Internet, including online sexual predators.

What Is Cyberbullying?

A cyberbully is someone who uses Internet technology to act cruelly toward another person. Online attacks often hurt more than face-to-face bullying because children can be anonymous over the Internet and behave in ways they never would in person. Online attacks can take on a life of their own: A false rumor or a cruel prank can spread quickly among classmates and live on forever in personal computers and cell phones. And there can be no escape for the victim. A fresh new attack threatens wherever there's an Internet connection, including the one place where they should feel safe: home.

A cyberbully might:

Use a cell phone to make repeated prank phone calls or send unwanted text messages to the victim.

Post cruel comments to the victim's social networking site or send unkind or rude emails or instant messages to the victim.

Create a fake social media profile to embarrass the victim.

Use a victim's password to break into his account, change the settings, lock the victim out, and impersonate the victim.

Forward the victim's private messages or photos to classmates and others. Sometimes the bully will trick the victim into revealing personal information for this purpose.

Forward or post embarrassing or unflattering photos or videos of the victim.

Spread malicious rumors through text messages, social networking sites, or other public forums.

Gang up on or humiliate the victim in online virtual worlds or online games.

5 Ways to Protect Your Child

Cyberbullying is most common among middle schoolers, but it can begin as early as 2nd grade, according to a 2008 Rochester Institute of Technology survey of 40,000 K-12 students. It's never too early to talk with your child about cyberbullying.
[Click to Read: What Kids Need When Classmates Reject Them]
1. Remind your child never to share his passwords, even with good friends.

2. If your child has an experience online that frightens her or hurts her feelings, she should let you know right away. If possible, save the evidence in case you need to take further action.

3. Don't respond to the bully. This is what the bully wants. If he sees that your child is upset, he's likely to torment her even more. Tell your child to take a deep breath, walk away from the computer if necessary, and ignore the harassment. Her next step should be to block the bully from contacting her again by using privacy settings and preferences.

4. Remind your child to treat others as he wants to be treated. This means not striking back when someone is mean to him and to support friends and others who are being cyberbullied.
[Get This Free Friendship Guide for Kids with ADHD]
5. Finally, limit the amount of time your child is online. The Rochester Institute of Technology study showed that children are more likely to get into trouble on the Internet - including bullying others or being bullied - the more time they spend online.

Is Your Child a Victim?

Most children won't tell their parents that they're being bullied because they're afraid their parents will take away the Internet or insist on complaining to the bully's parents. Sometimes children who are bullied are ashamed and blame themselves. Reassure your child that nobody deserves to be mistreated. Tell her that some people try to hurt others to make themselves feel better or because they've been bullied themselves. Let your child know that it's important for you to know what's going on so you can help her.

Signs that your child is being bullied can be hard to spot but may include:

Seeming nervous or unusually quiet, especially after being online.

Wanting to spend more or less time than usual on online activities.

Not wanting to go outdoors or to school.

Problems sleeping or eating.

Headaches or stomachaches.

Trouble focusing on schoolwork.

If you suspect your child is being cyberbullied, bring it up gently. Tell your child that by talking it over, you can work out a plan to deal with it. You might:

Contact the bully's parents. Be careful if you decide to do this because it can backfire and make the bullying worse. It's best if you already know the other child's parents and get along with them.

Contact your school officials. Make them aware of the problem and ask them to be on the lookout for signs that your child is being bullied at school. The school counselor or principal may have some strategies or even programs in place for handling bullying in school.

Look into filing a complaint against the bully if the behavior persists. Most internet service providers, websites, and cell phone companies have policies against harassment. You may be able to have the bully's account revoked.

Contact the police if you fear for your child's safety. Cyberbullying can cross into criminal behavior if it includes threats of violence, extortion, child pornography, obscenity, stalking, extreme harassment, or hate crimes.

If you learn that your child is being cruel to someone online, find out why. Often, cyberbullies are victims themselves. If this is the case with your child, go over the suggestions to help protect himself against being bullied. But remind him that bullying someone online or off is never OK and that using the Internet is a privilege that will be revoked if misused.

If your child notices someone else being picked on, encourage him to support the victim. Many social websites, such as YouTube and Facebook, allow users to report abuse. And bullies often back down when others make it clear they won't tolerate rude or nasty behavior.

Cyberbullying may be the most common online danger, but as a parent, talking openly about the issue is the best way to give your child the tools to protect herself from virtual sticks and stones.
[Read This Next: Apps That Boost Social Skills] Copyright © SchoolFamily.com. Reprinted with permission.

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How to Protect Your Child From Cyberbullying

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Is your child safe from bullying on the Internet? Online cyberbullying can be as cruel as anything that happens on the playground - and harder to defeat.

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Questions Parents Should Ask Their Children About Technology

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Questions Parents Should Ask Their Children About Technology

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What To Do When Your Child is Cyberbullied

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What To Do When Your Child is Cyberbullied

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is Cyberbullied

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Free, downloadable resources to equip parents as they help their children grow in the ability to stay safe and responsible online.

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Free, downloadable resources to equip parents as they help their children grow in the ability to stay safe and responsible online.

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Parents Archives - Cyberbullying Research Center

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Free, downloadable resources to equip parents as they help their children grow in the ability to stay safe and responsible online.

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If you or someone you know is being bullied, there are things you can do to keep yourself and others safe from bullying.

If you or someone you know is involved in cyberbullying, it is important to document and report the behavior.

If you have done everything you can to resolve the situation and nothing has worked, or someone is in immediate danger, there are ways to get help.

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If you have done everything you can to resolve the situation and nothing has worked, or someone is in immediate danger, there are ways to get help. Find out more at StopBullying.gov.

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Just as the use of technology itself has evolved, so has the ability to bully. Bullying, once restricted to the school or neighborhood, has now moved into the online world. Bullying through the use of technology is referred to as "cyberbullying."

Cyberbullying is bullying - unwanted, repeated, aggressive, negative behavior - that takes place over digital devices like cell phones, tablets, and computers. Cyberbullying can happen anywhere online, including over email, through texting, on social media, while gaming, on instant messaging, and through photo sharing.

As adults, thinking back, it was just a generation ago that kids and teens were asking their parents for a phone in their room - maybe even one with a separate line or three-way calling - so they could easily and somewhat privately connect with more friends.

Today, a kid or teen's desire to connect with friends has not changed, but the options for doing so have grown tremendously. Children are not only asking for their own tablets, gaming devices, and mobile phones at a younger age, they also want access to popular social media sites, and the ability to engage in online games and share information.

Just as young people used to spend unmonitored time playing with friends in the neighborhood, outside the periphery of adults, they are now engaging with each other in the cyberworld, "talking" with each other, "talking" to each other, and "talking" about each other, often without adult or parental monitoring. While technology allows young people to connect in meaningful ways, such as the opportunity to share ideas, photos, videos, and more, the unsupervised nature of the cyberworld demands the need for guidance, guidelines, and social responsibility.

Cyberbullying can happen anywhere there is online social interaction. For example, some young people use social media, video games, texting, or anonymous apps to bully other youth, post embarrassing pictures, share private information, or send threatening messages. Students can use their access to a large online audience to encourage their peers to join them in targeting someone with gossip, rumors, and untrue stories.

Cyberbullying: Definition and Dynamics

While the definitions of cyberbullying, sometimes called online bullying, vary from source to source, most definitions consist of:

Cyberbullying is bullying that takes place over digital devices like cell phones, computers, and tablets. Cyberbullying can occur through text and apps, or online in social media, forums, or gaming where people can view, participate in, or share content. Cyberbullying includes sending, posting, or sharing negative, harmful, false, or mean content about someone else. It can include sharing personal or private information about someone else, causing embarrassment or humiliation. Some cyberbullying crosses the line into unlawful or criminal behavior.
Source: StopBullying.gov
Other helpful definitions include:

"Cyberbullying is when someone repeatedly and intentionally harasses, mistreats, or makes fun of another person online or while using cell phones or other electronic devices." ( Hinduja & Patchin, 2019 ).

One student shared that "all bullying hurts, whether in person or through technology, the end result is that bullying in any form is emotionally damaging."Some of the most common cyberbullying tactics include:

Posting comments or rumors about someone online that are mean, hurtful, or embarrassing.

Threatening to hurt someone or telling them to kill themselves.

Posting a mean or hurtful picture or video.

Pretending to be someone else online in order to solicit or post personal or false information about someone else.

Posting mean or hateful names, comments, or content about any race, religion, ethnicity, or other personal characteristics online.

Creating a mean or hurtful webpage about someone.

Doxing, an abbreviated form of the word documents, is a form of online harassment used to exact revenge and to threaten and destroy the privacy of individuals by making their personal information public, including addresses, social security, credit card and phone numbers, links to social media accounts, and other private data.

Source: StopBullying.gov

What Kids Want Parents to Know About Cyberbullying | PACERTalks About Bullying: Season 2, Episode 17

Middle school students provide insight about their online experiences, and share what they want their parents to know about cyberbullying.

Unique Characteristics of Cyberbullying

While all bullying is characterized by intentional, often repetitive, hurtful behavior toward another person or group, there are distinguishing elements when it happens online or via smartphone, which include:

Persistent. Most students have access to some form of technology at all times, which means cyberbullying can happen any time-in the morning, afternoon, and evening-not just while children are at school. It happens while at home or in the community.

Hard to detect. While some bullying is very overt, such as pushing or damaging belongings, cyberbullying happens through phones and on computers or tablets, making it much more difficult for adults to detect.

Anonymous. Cyberbullying can be done anonymously. Those being bullied might not even know who is perpetuating the behavior, which makes it easy for one child to hurt another and not be held accountable.

Shared to a potentially larger audience. Information online can be easily and quickly shared, which makes it difficult to contain or stop negative messages once they are posted online.

Easier to be hurtful. It is often easier to bully using technology because of greater physical distance The person bullying doesn't see the immediate response from the person being targeted They might not recognize the serious harm caused by their actions because technology distances them from the real-life pain they could be causing.

Permanent.* Once something is shared on the internet, it is often available to everyone, everywhere It can be challenging to completely delete information once it is on the internet.

Note: The one advantage to "permanence" is that online bullying does leave tangible evidence. Unlike physical or emotional bullying, online bullying leaves a digital footprint; the words, images, or videos posted can be documented through screenshots or saving URLs and texts, which can be useful.
5 Unique Aspects of Cyberbullying | PACERTalks About Bullying: Season 3, Episode 22

Five important elements of cyberbullying are explored.

Cyberbullying: What Makes it Unique | PACERTalks About Bullying, Season One, Episode 13

The dynamics of using technology to hurt, harm or humiliate another individual or group are examined in this video.

Rates of Incidence

StopBullying.gov provides two sources of federally collected data on youth bullying:

The 2019 School Crime Supplement (National Center for Education Statistics and Bureau of Justice) indicates that, among students ages 12-18 who reported being bullied at school during the school year, 16% were bullied online or by text.

The 2019 Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) indicates that an estimated 15.7% of high school students were electronically bullied in the 12 months prior to the survey.

The Cyberbullying Research Center surveyed a nationally-representative sample of 4,972 middle and high school students between the ages of 12 and 17 in the United States. Data were collected in April of 2019.

Cyberbullying Victimization. We define cyberbullying as: "Cyberbullying is when someone repeatedly and intentionally harasses, mistreats, or makes fun of another person online or while using cell phones or other electronic devices." Approximately 37% of the students in our sample report experiencing cyberbullying in their lifetimes. When asked about specific types of cyberbullying experienced in the previous 30 days, mean or hurtful comments (24.9%) and rumors spread online (22.2%) continue to be among the most commonly-cited. Thirty percent of the sample reported being cyberbullied in one or more of the twelve specific types reported, two or more times over the course of the previous 30 days.

Cyberbullying Offending. We define cyberbullying as: "Cyberbullying is when someone repeatedly and intentionally harasses, mistreats, or makes fun of another person online or while using cell phones or other electronic devices." Approximately 15% of the students in our sample admitted to cyberbullying others at some point in their lifetime. Posting mean comments online was the most commonly reported type of cyberbullying they reported during the previous 30 days (9.3%). About 11% of the sample reported cyberbullying using one or more of the eleven types reported, two or more times over the course of the previous 30 days.

Cyberbullying by Gender. Adolescent girls are more likely to have experienced cyberbullying in their lifetimes (38.7% vs. 34.5%). This changes when reviewing experiences over the previous 30 days, where boys are slightly higher. In this sample, boys were more likely to report cyberbullying others during their lifetime (16.1% vs. 13.4%) and in the most recent 30 days (8.1% vs. 4.6%). The type of cyberbullying tends to differ by gender; girls were more likely to say someone spread rumors about them online while boys were more likely to say that someone threatened to hurt them online. As with 2016, boys reported significantly more involvement in every type of cyberbullying offending behavior we asked about. In the past, this has varied by type of behavior.

5 Reasons Youth Don't Report Cyberbullying and What Parents Can Do About it
Youth are spending more time online due to COVID-19, both for school and for connecting with friends. Along with adjusting to learning and interacting with friends virtually, many young people may be feeling new emotions such as anxiety or isolation. This unprecedented time, combined with more time spent online, have the potential to increase cyberbullying. Authored by PACER's National Bullying Prevention Center. Published by Family Online Safety Institute (FOSI), November 2020.
Cyberbullying 101: Remote Learning Edition
An interview with a staff member from the National Bullying Prevention Center about how to recognize cyberbullying and how deal with it - whether your kid is the victim, at fault or the bystander. Published by Parent Map, written by Gemma Alexander, October 2020.
Cyberbullying: What Parents Should Know
Students now live at a time of instant access to cell phones, tablets, or computers, which open the door to exciting new ways of connecting, interacting, and learning. However, these new modes of communication also present new challenges for parents. Not only do parents have to help children and youth navigate in-person social situations, they also need to prepare them for healthy relationships online. This 16-page booklet has information for parents on how to guide their children through this virtual world. (BP-23) Free to download | Order for $3.00 per copy, with 10+ at $2.00 each
5 Things You Should Know About Cyberbullying
While today's technology provides young people with new and meaningful ways to connect and communicate, it also presents new challenges. This article explore the rise of cyberbullying, the use of technology to bully. Authored by PACER's National Bullying Prevention Center. Published by Family Online Safety Institute (FOSI), December 2019.

References

Hinduja, S. & Patchin, J. W. (2019). Summary of Our Cyberbullying Research (2007-2019) Cyberbullying Research Center. Retrieved from https://cyberbullying.org/2019-cyberbullying-data

Hutson, E. (2016). Cyberbullying in adolescence: A concept analysis. Advances in Nursing Science, 39, 60-70. Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26836994

Children and youth live at a time of instant access to cell phones, tablets, or computers that opens the door to exciting new ways of connecting, interacting, and learning. However, these new modes of communication also present new challenges for the adults who care for them. Not only do parents and other adults help children and youth navigate in-person social situations, they also need to prepare them for healthy relationships online.

Talking with Children and Youth About Technology and the Potential for Bullying

Today's youth are the first generation to use technology as a means of bullying. Today's adults are the first who have had to learn how to address cyberbullying with youth. The following steps can help you explore this topic with kids and teens.

Talk about potential for bullying

Start a conversation with your child or student about cyberbullying, keeping in mind that bullying can be hard for children to talk about with adults for many reasons. They might be:

Embarrassed by what is happening

Afraid that the bullying will increase if they tell

Thinking that it is their problem to solve on their own

Cyberbullying is also complicated in that many students might not interpret the mean and hurtful behavior that happens on their computer or cell phone as bullying. Children may also worry that they will lose access to technology if they tell an adult about cyberbullying.

As you open the subject for discussion, let the child know that you recognize that phones, computers, and being connected online with friends is a significant part of their lives, but that you also want them to know how to be safe and handle cyberbullying. Explain that if something hurtful is communicated online, it is important that they tell you so that you can work through the situation together.
So, When Should I Start the Cyberbullying Conversation with My Child or Student?
Adults should discuss online conduct and behavior, as well as cyberbullying, as soon as children begin using technology. There is potential for cyberbullying whenever children are using technology to interact. It can begin as soon as children have access to a cell phone or computer that they can use to connect to gaming sites, social media, text, direct messaging, or group chats.

To open the subject up for discussion, tell the child:

"I understand how important it is to communicate with other kids by phone and online"

"You deserve to be safe from bullying online, just like at school, on the playground and in the neighborhood"

"If something happening online is hurtful to you, it's important to tell me about it"

How Do I Start A Conversation About Cyberbullying with My Child Or Student?
Talk with youth about how to handle hurtful online behavior early and often, in the same way that you talk with your kids about being safe at school, in the car, riding public transportation, or playing sports. Visit Questions Answered , which provides a 60-second response, feature article, video, and online poll.

Starting the Conversation About Online Safety | PACERTalks About Bullying, Episode 14

Tips for adults to start the conversation about online safety with their child or student.

Establish online guidelines

Adults set safety rules for children and youth in the physical world, such as guidelines for behavior on the playground, going to the mall or curfews when visiting a friend's house. Do the same for their cyberworld and do your best to include them in the process. Ask the child what's important to them concerning their internet use and set boundaries that reflect keeping those activities safe and positive.

Specific advice to keep in mind:

Remind children and youth that they never really know who is on the other end of online communication. It could be the person they think it is, but because they cannot see that person they should always proceed with caution in their exchanges. Remind them not to do or say anything online that they wouldn't do or say in person. Stress that they should not reveal anything that they wouldn't tell a stranger.

Advise them to never share their email or social media account passwords with anyone, even their best friend. That friend may share it with other people, or the friendship may end, and then their private messages could suddenly become very public.

Help them determine what is and is not appropriate to share online. This can include avoiding sharing personal photos or data (such as physical descriptions, phone numbers, or addresses).

Parents and their children

Decide whether you, the adult, will have access to children's passwords for email accounts, social media, or other technology. If so, determine when you might use their passwords to check on account content.

Look through some of the child's favorite online accounts together to talk about what appropriate posts look like. Giving specific examples of appropriate online content will help them better understand healthy internet use.

Ensure that they keep social media accounts private and do not "friend" people they do not know. Establish rules about whether it's okay for the child to add friends they haven't met in person, such as a friend of a friend.

Establish whether you and the child will be friends on social media accounts and whether you want to moderate the content they share and post online

Set hours that technology can and can't be used. Decide if there will be limits on using technology to communicate with peers, such as no computer or texting after 9 p.m., in class, during mealtimes, or before homework is done.

Create a code of conduct, such as they will not use social media to humiliate or embarrass other people, even if they are being targeted by cyberbullying

Establish that if your child experiences cyberbullying and shares that with you, their access to technology won't be restricted

Be Clear, Be Open
Make sure that any restriction of technology is covered in the agreement you've made with the child so that they understand what will and will not happen if they talk to you. Always aim to keep the lines of communication open, so that they will feel comfortable coming to you with difficult conversations. Also, for situations in which the child demonstrates cyberbullying behavior, be clear that there will be consequences.

Continue to be involved with the child's online use

For parents, and care givers, once there are established rules about your supervising access to children's cell phones, text history, social networking sites, and other computer accounts that they may use for posting information, be sure to frequently remind them about the importance of the established guidelines.

As the child grows and gains access to new technology, remember to evaluate your online safety rules to determine if they are effective and age appropriate. As an adult, you have a responsibility to know what the children under your supervision are doing online. Explore parental control options through internet service and wireless providers and continue to establish what access you will have to the child's online interactions. If past guidelines are no longer working or no longer apply to your child's use of technology, then sit down with the child and have the conversation again. Keep encouraging them to talk with you about any inappropriate behavior they see online, whether it's happening to them, by them, or to others.

Steps to Take When Youth Are Being Bullied Online

If a child or youth tells you that they are being bullied online, be supportive. Cyberbullying is often an isolating experience, and you might be the first person they've told about it.

What should you tell the child?

1. This is not your fault. Make sure they know they should not blame themselves.

2. You are not alone. Many children feel that no one can help and that nothing will change.

3. It is not up to you to stop the bullying; we will work together. It's important that youth and adults are both involved in working toward a solution.

4. Bullying is never okay. Even though it happens, that never makes it right.

5. No one deserves to be bullied. All students have the right to be treated with dignity and respect.

Document the situation and keep a detailed record

One of the unique aspects of cyberbullying is that it leaves behind a trail of evidence documenting the hurt the child has experienced. Keeping a detailed record of this evidence will help when planning how to resolve the situation. It's tempting for children who are being cyberbullied to delete messages and other bullying content sent to them, especially if they are trying to ignore the bullying. But this can become problematic if you need to provide proof of the cyberbullying to parents, school officials or law enforcement officials later on. Remember that if there is no evidence of the behavior, it's almost impossible to prove.

How to capture evidence of cyberbullying:

Take screenshots of bullying content on a phone or computer

Save emails, messages, and photos

Encourage the child to forward hurtful texts to you or another trusted adult so that someone is keeping track of the evidence but the child can delete it from their own device

If bullying is also happening in person, make sure to record the date and description of each instance

Contact the social media, site, or app provider

Many social media sites have safety pages that provide guidelines for how to address cyberbullying on their site:
Ideas for Parents

Consider using the safety features offered by wireless and internet service providers or social media sites that help block or manage cyberbullying. The privacy settings are always evolving, with new family safeguard and parental control features designed to offer customized solutions to cyberbullying.

You can also review privacy settings on your child's online accounts, mobile apps, computers, and cell phones

Have your child take an inventory of their online accounts and check to make sure you are comfortable with the amount and type (videos, photos, etc.) of information they're sharing with others

Suggest they-after documenting-delete, untag, or hide content they are concerned about

Promote self-advocacy

Learning how to communicate what you need is a powerful skill for youth. Self-advocacy-which means communicating on your own behalf, sharing what you need, and then taking action-is especially important in bullying situations as they may be feeling powerless to change what is happening to them. Being part of the solutions helps give them some of the power back.

Encouraging children to share their ideas will help restore confidence and teach them how to self-advocate

A child-centered solution will also help provide the child with a sense of ownership over positive outcomes and engage them more in achieving those outcomes

As an adult looking for ways to help a child, it's important to not only be informed, but to also have a plan. Whether they are being bullied, witnessing bullying, or bullying others, you can help to create a plan to change the situation.

Examples of Self Advocacy | PACERTalks About Bullying, Episode 25

Jody, director of PACER's Parent Training and Information Center, shares a creative, real-life example to help explain what self-advocacy and the "Student Action Plan" can look like in action.

Parents and Schools Working Together

Today, most schools include cyberbullying in their bullying prevention policy, whether it happens on or off school premises or during school hours. These policies can help prevent cyberbullying and explain how this online behavior might impact your child at school.

When there is a cyberbullying situation, ask for a meeting

If you're an educator, coach, or counselor and you've noticed a child has been cyberbullied or is bullying others online, meet with their parents. If you're a parent, reach out to the school to meet and discuss the situation. This can be with a teacher, but also ask if the principal, a social worker, or an administrator should attend. During the conversation or meeting, use the steps below to outline a possible plan to address the bullying.

Describe the problem clearly

Explain how the online bullying is impacting the child offline and in all parts of life

Provide any documentation that you have, such as screenshots or text messages or the child's completed Student Action Plan Against Bullying

Review the school's bullying prevention policy

Encourage input from all members at the meeting

Brainstorm (without judging the ideas)

Develop a plan

Define who is responsible for an action and when will it be done

Put that plan in writing

Create a timeline and criteria to evaluate success

Follow up and report outcomes

Steps to Take When Youth Have Witnessed Cyberbullying

First, let the child know how powerful and impactful their response can be. Many bullying situations end when a peer intervenes, which means students play an important role in bullying prevention. However, many are unsure how to take the first step, especially online. As a trusted adult or parent, it's important to explain to children and teens that they have the power to help others. There are many effective ways to respond when they witness bullying, so encourage your child to do what feels right for them.

Give them ideas for action steps they can take online, such as:

Don't participate or engage. Don't "like" or share posts that are bullying someone. This sends the message that they don't agree with what's happening and it takes attention away from the person who is cyberbullying.

Report it. Even if the content isn't targeting the child, they can still report it to the site or to an adult they trust.

Respond with positive support. If the child feels comfortable doing so, and if it's safe, advise them to post a comment showing solidarity with the target. Ask the child to think about how they would feel if they were being cyberbullied - wouldn't they want someone to support them? Imagine the difference one nice comment among a bunch of mean ones can make!

Reach out to the person being bullied. Your child can send them a private message letting them know that what's happening is wrong, they don't deserve to be treated like that, and they're not alone.

Classroom Ideas

Elementary School Students

An activity designed with hypothetical bullying scenarios (that are based on real events), which students can use to think through responses and solutions.

Cyberbullying: What Makes it Unique | PACERTalks About Bullying, Episode 13

The dynamics of using technology to hurt, harm or humiliate another individual or group.

Middle and High School Students

Being Bullied? Cyberbullying and Self-Advocacy: PACER's Teen Against Bullying resource page designed for students who are being bullied.

Witnessing Bullying? Cyberbullying and Advocacy for Others: PACER's Teen Against Bullying resource page designed for students who witness bullying.

What Should You Do? An activity designed with hypothetical bullying scenarios (that are based on real events), which students can use to think through responses and solutions.

Teen Talk on Cyberbullying Watch this five-minute video designed to provide authentic insight and perspective from peers on issues related to cyberbullying. Use the suggested discussion questions to continue the dialogue.

Steps to Take When Youth are Cyberbullying Others

If you find out your child or student is cyberbullying others, it's important to know that bullying is a behavior and that behavior can be changed. Children cyberbully for many reasons, including peer pressure, being bullied themselves, or not realizing the impact their actions can have on others.

Start by talking with the child and exploring reasons for their behavior. This conversation should allow the child to:

Discuss how they are feeling

Speak up if they are being bullied by someone else

Talk about other factors that may be leading to this behavior

Next, teach empathy, respect, and compassion. Children who cyberbully often lack awareness of how others feel. They also often have difficulty understanding that what we do online has real-life consequences; share with them how their online behavior can impact how someone feels or thinks. Try to understand the child's feelings and help them learn to appreciate how others feel when they are cyberbullied. Let the child know that everyone has feelings and that feelings matter.

Then, make your expectations and consequences clear and consistent. Let the child know that bullying is not okay under any circumstance and will not be tolerated. Explain that there will be consequences for their behavior. Be specific about what will happen and take immediate action if you learn that they're involved in a cyberbullying incident.

Finally, provide positive feedback and be patient. It takes time to change behavior. Be patient with the child as they learn new ways to handle feelings and conflict. Provide praise and recognition when they child handle online conflict well or find a positive way to deal with their feelings. This type of positive reinforcement goes a long way! Keep your concern and support visible.
Advice to Give to a Child to Prevent Them From Cyberbullying Others

Think before you post. If you're upset, sad, or angry, wait to post or respond. Give yourself some time to cool down, so you don't do something that you can't take back.

Never publicly reveal anything that you wouldn't be comfortable with anyone knowing. Remember that when you share something online, it can potentially be seen by anyone, including your parents and teachers.

When you make comments about someone else, imagine how you would feel if someone said that about you.

Cyberbullying Youth of Protected Classes

There are legal rights when a child is part of a protected class and is the target of bullying or cyberbullying. The distinction between bullying and harassment is that when the bullying behavior directed at the target is also based on their status as part of a protected class, that behavior may then also be defined as harassment. Protected classes include race, color, religion, sex, age, disability, and national origin.

According to the Office for Civil Rights (OCR) and the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), online and offline bullying may also be considered harassment when the conduct is sufficiently serious that it interferes with (or limits) a student's ability to participate in (or benefit from) the services, activities, or opportunities offered by a school.

Students with disabilities

There are legal protections and provisions for students with disabilities who are being harassed. All students with disabilities have protections under federal law to ensure they receive a free, appropriate public education. The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) is a federal law. It requires that each child who has a disability and qualifies for special education and related services receives a free and appropriate public education (FAPE). Each State Department of Education enforces IDEA in their state. Students with an Individualized Education Program (IEP) would qualify for these protections.

Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (often referred to as simply "Section 504") and Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (Title II) are other federal laws that apply if the harassment denies a student with a disability an equal opportunity to education. The Office for Civil Rights (OCR) enforces Section 504 and Title II of the ADA. Students with a 504 plan or an IEP would qualify for these protections.

If a student with a disability is being bullied, these federal laws require schools to take immediate and appropriate action to investigate the issue and take any necessary steps to stop the bullying and prevent it from recurring.

The bullying of a student with a disability on any basis, not just because of their disability, may result in a denial of FAPE that must be remedied by the school. The IEP or 504 team should convene when a student with a disability is bullied for any reason in order to determine whether the student's needs have changed and whether FAPE is still being provided.

What is the role of schools to address cyberbullying?

Every state has a bullying prevention law or policy that helps districts and schools address bullying. Many of these laws and policies require that schools address cyberbullying in their district policy. Some state laws also cover off-campus behavior that creates a hostile school environment. If a child experiences cyberbullying, check the school's bullying prevention policy to learn more about the role the school can play in helping youth address the issue.
State Law and Policy

Cyberbullying can create a disruptive environment at school and is often related to in-person bullying. The school can use the information to help inform prevention and response strategies.

In many states, schools are required to address cyberbullying in their bullying prevention policy. Some state laws also cover off-campus behavior that creates a hostile school environment.

Source: StopBullying.gov

Related Resources

Cyberbullying - Student Perspective | PACERTalks About Bullying: Season 3, Episode 23

Students provide their insights about how to address and prevent cyberbullying.

Ideas for Addressing Cyberbullying | PACERTalks About Bullying, Season 2, Episode 13

Tips for teens on how to address and prevent cyberbullying, and what to do if they see it happening online.

A Conversation with Your 13-Year-Old about Facebook and Instagram |Sponsored by Facebook, Instagram, and PACER's National Bullying Prevention Center

Connecting Responsibly: Just a generation ago, teens were asking their parents for a phone in their room-maybe even one with a separate line or three-way calling-so they could connect with more friends. Today, a teen's desire to connect with friends has not changed, but the options for doing so have grown tremendously. Children are not only asking for their own mobile phones at a younger age, but they also want access to popular social media sites and apps, such as Facebook and Instagram. While these platforms offer teens the opportunity to share ideas, photos, videos, and more, these tools should be used responsibly. View the full guide.
Cyberbullying Starts Earlier Than You Might Think - Here's How to Protect Your Child Now
With kids owning smartphones as early as age 6, knowing the basics of cyber safety is key.
What Every Parents Needs to Know About Protecting Their Child from Cyberbullying
Bullying behavior has been around forever, but cyberbullying presents new challenges-and kids today are the first to experience them.
Helping Your Child Understand Cyberbullying
It was just a generation ago that kids and teens were asking their parents for a phone line in their room so they could connect with friends. Today, a student's desire to connect with friends has not changed, but the options for doing so have grown tremendously. While young people's access to technology has evolved over the years, so has the way we communicate with children about online safety and cyberbullying. Posted to Spring 2017 edition of Our Children, the National PTA Magazine.
How to Prevent Cyberbullying: Hands off the keyboard until you're calm!
Julie Hertzog, the director of PACER's National Bullying Prevention Center said the following in a recent interview: "Cyberbullying manifests itself as teens using technology to hurt, harm, and humiliate their peers. In some ways, online bullying can be even more devastating than traditional bullying, as an aggressor is able to access an audience 24/7 instead of traditional bullying which is confined to school." And the hurt can be worse, as "the person being bullied can read and re-read a hurtful text or comment on social media, and experience the hurt over and over again," Hertzog explains.
How parents can help kids cope in the age of cyberbullying
In HEMAWARE, a digital magazine, author Rita Colorito interviews staff from PACER's National Bullying Prevention Center to share important information for parents. "It's important for kids to know that they have a right to be safe on their cellphone just like they have a right to be safe in school. It should be a good experience," Hertzog says.

What makes cyberbullying unique from traditional bullying?

While all bullying is characterized by intentional, often repetitive, hurtful behavior toward another person or group, there are distinguishing elements when it happens online or via smartphone, which include:

Persistent. Most students have access to some form of technology at all times, which means cyberbullying can happen any time-in the morning, afternoon, and evening-not just while children are at school. It happens while at home or in the community.

Hard to detect. While some bullying is very overt, such as pushing or damaging belongings, cyberbullying happens through phones and on computers or tablets, making it much more difficult for adults to detect.

Anonymous. Cyberbullying can be done anonymously. Those being bullied might not even know who is perpetuating the behavior, which makes it easy for one child to hurt another and not be held accountable.

Capable of spreading to a much larger audience. Information online can be shared easily and quickly, which makes it difficult to contain or stop negative messages.

Easier to be hurtful. It is often easier to bully using technology because of greater physical distance. The person bullying doesn't see the immediate response from the person being targeted They might not recognize the serious harm caused by their actions because technology distances them from the real-life pain they could be causing.

Permanent.* Once something is shared on the internet, it is often available to everyone, everywhere. It can be challenging to completely delete information once it is on the internet.

Note: The one advantage to "permanence" is that online bullying does leave tangible evidence. Unlike physical or emotional bullying, online bullying leaves a digital footprint; the words, images, or videos posted can be documented through screenshots or saving URLs and texts, which can be useful. How prevalent is cyberbullying?
The Cyberbullying Research Center provides data through a nationally-representative sample of 4,972 middle and high school students between the ages of 12 and 17 in the United States. Data were collected in April of 2019.

At what age does cyberbullying start?

Often, the perception is that cyberbullying only happens on social media platforms, which require individuals to be at least 13 before signing up and using these services, according to the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA) regulations. However, cyberbullying is an issue that can even impact younger children, as they can be subjected to or participate in inappropriate online behavior as soon as they have access to technology. When kids have access to text messaging, group chats, an email address, or a gaming site, there is the potential for cyberbullying.

Cyberbullying: More Questions Answered by Kids | PACERTalks About Bullying, Episode 16

Age 13 is when teens are typically able to sign up for many social media accounts. But does cyberbullying only start when teens start getting these accounts? In this video we ask kids about this and all things cyberbullying.

What is the most important thing youth can do if they experience cyberbullying?

Encourage all youth that if they experience cyberbullying, they should tell someone. Cyberbullying generally happens in an environment where adults can't see it; unless the kids involved tell someone, often no adults will know. Also, share with youth that you recognize there may be times when they have difficulty confiding in a parent or adult, but that it's important that they don't go through the experience all alone, and for their well-being it's important to tell someone.
Reasons Why Young People May Not Tell an Adult
They tried and were told just to "ignore it." A common response to bullying is to "just ignore it," which is well intentioned but not helpful. It's hard to ignore negative behavior that is repeatedly directed at you.

They think because it happened through technology, that it's not bullying. Reinforce that when someone intentionally and repeatedly tries to hurt or harm you, whether it's in person or online, that is bullying.

They think they should handle it on their own. Some kids see bullying as something they need to fix or that they maybe did something to deserve it.

They're concerned about contacting the other kid's parents. Some kids think that an adult's response will make the situation worse, like calling the other kid's parent and getting upset with them.

They don't want their phone taken away. Limiting a child's use of phones, tablets, or other technology won't stop the situation. It's the bullying, not the technology, that needs to stop.

They don't want anyone to worry. Some kids believe that their parents or other adults in their lives, have enough to deal with and they don't want to add another problem to handle.

They see the situation as too personal. Some kids get picked on because of something they did, like behaving inappropriately at a party. If they tell an adult about being bullied, then they also have to explain their own actions. That's not an easy thing to do when you already feel bad about what happened.

What should someone do when they see cyberbullying?

If your child or student sees cyberbullying, encourage them to take action when they feel comfortable. Research shows that peers can be very effective at intervening in a bullying situation. While possible responses include direct confrontation, this can be very challenging for individuals of any age to do. Research shows the more effective response is being supportive of the person being bullied. When someone sees cyberbullying, their response could be to:

Write something positive about the person being targeted

Contact the person being bullied and let them know they're not alone

Take a screenshot of the bullying and report it to a parent or an adult at school

Report the bullying content to the social media platform and ask to have it removed according to the platform's community guidelines

How do you keep a record of cyberbullying?

An important part of addressing a cyberbullying situation is to document what has happened. Your child or student may want to delete what is being sent so that they don't have to see it again, but it's important to NOT immediately delete evidence of bullying, encourage them to first capture the information. Records can provide proof of the cyberbullying to social media providers, school personnel, or law enforcement officials.

Adults and youth can work together to save the evidence: take screenshots of inappropriate behavior in emails, text messages, posts, website pages, and photos

Print out evidence when necessary

Don't delete anything until you've made a copy that includes dates, identity of sender, and other relevant information

Make sure to record the date and description of any bullying incidents that are happening in person, as well

What is the role of schools to address cyberbullying?

Every state has a bullying prevention law or policy that helps districts and schools address bullying. Many of these laws and policies require that schools address cyberbullying in their district policy. Some state laws also cover off-campus behavior that creates a hostile school environment. If a child experiences cyberbullying, check the school's bullying prevention policy to learn more about the role the school can play in helping youth address the issue.
State Law and Policy

Cyberbullying can create a disruptive environment at school and is often related to in-person bullying. The school can use the information to help inform prevention and response strategies.

In many states, schools are required to address cyberbullying in their anti-bullying policy. Some state laws also cover off-campus behavior that creates a hostile school environment.

Source: StopBullying.gov

What is the role of technology providers to address cyberbullying?

Many social media sites have safety pages that provide guidelines for how to address cyberbullying on their site, including:

Parents can also be aware of the safety features offered by wireless and internet service providers that help block or manage cyberbullying. The privacy settings are always evolving, with new family safeguard and parental control features designed to offer customized solutions to cyberbullying.

What can be done to support the emotional and physical well-being of youth experiencing cyberbullying?

PACER's National Bullying Prevention Center offers the Student Action Plan Against Bullying, a free, downloadable handout which involves youth in the solution equation, along with a helpful guide for parents and educators. The plan and guide can be used to help your child or student think through their situation, discuss how they think it could be different, and identify the steps needed to make that change happen.

Cyberbullying

One in five (20.9%) tweens (9 to 12 years old) has been cyberbullied, cyberbullied others, or seen cyberbullying (Patchin & Hinduja, 2020).

49.8% of tweens (9 to 12 years old) said they experienced bullying at school and 14.5% of tweens shared they experienced bullying online (Patchin & Hinduja, 2020).

13% of tweens (9 to 12 years old) reported experiencing bullying at school and online, while only 1% reported being bullied solely online (Patchin & Hinduja, 2020).

Reports of cyberbullying are highest among middle school students, followed by high school students, and then primary school students (Centers for Disease Control, 2019)

Trends to address cyberbullying

Tweens reported using a variety of strategies to stop the bullying including blocking the person bullying them (60.2%), telling a parent (50.8%), ignoring the person (42.8%), reporting it to the website or app (29.8%), and taking a break from the device (29.6%) (Patchin & Hinduja, 2020).

Two-thirds of tweens are willing to step in to defend, support, or assist those being bullied at school and online when they see it (Patchin & Hinduja, 2020).

Barriers to helping when tweens witness bullying at school or online included being afraid of making things worse, not knowing what to do or say, not knowing how to report it online, being afraid others kids will make fun of them, being afraid to get hurt, and not knowing who to tell (Patchin & Hinduja, 2020).

Improving social networking safety skills can help prevent cyberbullying, such as understanding how cyberbullying can cause harm, making sure personal information is not available on social media, keeping social media accounts private, not "friending" people they do not know, and general efficacy (Wölfer, Schultze-Krumbholz, Zagorscak, Jäkel, Göbel, & Scheithauer, 2013 ).

How cyberbullying impact students

Tweens who were cyberbullied shared that it negatively impacted their feelings about themselves (69.1%), their friendships (31.9%), their physical health (13.1%), and their schoolwork (6.5%) (Patchin & Hinduja, 2020) .

Cyberbullying can result in serious emotional problems for targets, including depression, anger, and sadness. Those who are victimized by cyberbullying also reveal that they are often afraid or embarrassed to go to school. In addition, research has revealed a link between cyberbullying and low self-esteem, family problems, academic difficulties, school violence, and various delinquent behaviors. (Hinduja & Patchin, 2015)

References

Patchin, J.W., & Hinduja, S. (2020). Tween Cyberbullying in 2020. Cyberbullying Research Center and Cartoon Network. Retrieved from: https://i.cartoonnetwork.com/stop-bullying/pdfs/CN_Stop_Bullying_Cyber_Bullying_Report_9.30.20.pdf

Patchin, J. W., & Hinduja, S. (2019). Summary of our cyberbullying research (2004-2016). Cyberbullying Research Center. Retrieved from http://cyberbullying.org/summary-of-our-cyberbullying-research

Wölfer, R., Schultze-Krumbholz, A., Zagorscak, P., Jäkel, A., Göbel, K., & Scheithauer, H. (2014). Prevention 2.0: Targeting cyberbullying @ school. Prevention Science, 15, 879-887. Retrieved from https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24122481/

Youth Risk Behavior Survey. (2015). Trends in the prevalence of behaviors that contribute to violence. Centers for Disease Control. Retrieved from http://www.cdc.gov/healthyyouth/data/yrbs/pdf/trends/2015_us_violence_trend_yrbs.pdf

1. Why can cyberbullying sometimes be more damaging than traditional bullying?

1. It can happen at any time of day

2. It can be anonymous

3. It can be highly public

4. All of the above

Check Answer

All of the above. While cyberbullying is still less common than traditional bullying, it can be particularly damaging because it can happen outside of school hours, it can be anonymous, and it is frequently very public with a potentially unlimited audience. At the same time, many parents are not active on the same websites or technology as their children and may not know what they're experiencing while online or on their phone.

2. At what age should there be a "cyberbullying conversation" with youth?

Why can cyberbullying sometimes be more damaging than traditional bullying?

1. When they start using social media

2. When they get their first phone

3. When they start using technology

4. All of the above

Check Answer

All of the above. Adults should discuss online conduct and behavior, as well as cyberbullying, as soon as youth start using technology in any form. There is potential for cyberbullying whenever children are using technology to interact. It can begin as soon as they have access to a cell phone or computer that they can use to connect to gaming sites, social media, text, direct messaging, or group chats. Have this conversation early in their lives, and return to the conversation as they grow up and their use of technology evolves.

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Just as the use of technology itself has evolved, so has the ability to bully. Bullying, once restricted to the school or neighborhood, has now moved into the online world. Bullying through electronic means is referred to as "cyberbullying."

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The STOMP Out Bullying® Live HelpChat Crisis Line

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The STOMP Out Bullying® Live HelpChat Crisis Line

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The STOMP Out Bullying™ Live HelpChat Crisis Line is free & confidential for teens age 13-24 who need help with bullying, cyberbullying or are at risk of suicide.

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Need Help? Get help now with STOMP Out Bullying’s anti-bullying and cyberbullying resources.

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Special Needs Anti-Bullying Toolkit

Welcome to our specially designed tool kit for parents, teachers and students dealing with bullying and children with special needs.

This toolkit is a set of resources for people to confront bullying of children with special needs from all angles - from talking to your children to knowing your rights to teaching tolerance in schools. Start by reading the Top Ten Facts to know about bullying and children with special needs, and then learn about the unique challenges children with special needs face when encountering bullying.

Now you have the facts, but want to DO something to help create a bully free world? Getting started is as easy as writing a letter to your child's teacher, or asking your Principal to post your school's anti-bullying policy in public places around the school building. It could mean talking to your child about how he or she has experienced bullying, or reading about the roles of bullying and identifying your personal place in the cycle of bullying.

David and Tina Long shared their own personal, painful experience with bullying in the BULLY film. They took some time recently to record this message about why they're excited about the resources available in the toolkit. Check it out -

Every step towards a bully free world will help a child with special needs live free from fear and torment. Take your first action today, and tell us how you're working to create a bully free world for children with special needs in your home, school, and community.

Enter the toolkit below to access unique resources for

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Welcome to our specially designed tool kit for parents, teachers and students dealing with bullying and children with special needs. This toolkit is a set of resources for people to confront bullying of children with special needs from all angles - from talking to your children to knowing your rights to teaching tolerance in schools.