Parents you can help stop cyberbullying. No, I am not saying stop everything that you are doing, and find out where the person lives, so you can go be mother bear to your cub. What I am saying is we have to teach our children what they need to be doing in these circumstances. We should be teaching our children how to act. Our children mimic our ways, even if we do not want them to, trust me they do!
So How Can Our Kids Stop Cyberbullying?
For the Kids & Teens
It is Not Your Fault
A lot of kids tend to think it is their fault why they are bullied, maybe they did something wrong, or not able to wear the right clothes or shoes. Bullying is NEVER your fault, our children need to know this. They need to understand that it is wrong! They also need to know the difference between an argument between them and a friend, and bullying.
Always Save The Conversation
With one advantage of cyberbullying, it is easier to save and screenshot evidence of the bullying. Always save your evidence and DO NOT be scared to go to an adult you trust for help!
Do Not Respond To Get Revenge
This is what bullies are looking for. They want to see you mad and upset! Do not give them the power they are looking for which also makes you a bully, which we are trying to stop completely. If you can change the subject or completely remove yourself from the conversation that is the best way to take charge. Do not enable the one bullying, it only makes things worse.
Use Your Social Media Tools That You Are Given For Free
Most social media sites allow you to block people, make your page private, etc. Take advantage of this! Parents YOU can help, help your child make their social media only available to those whom you and your child agree on! Work together!
Speak Up
Be strong, be confident, and be the BIGGER person! Speak up! Tell someone, whether it be your best friend, your mom, your dad, brother or sister. Someone needs to know! It will never make you feel less of a person, I promise, just let someone know. The only person that will feel less of a person is the one bullying you
For Our Parents
If Your Child Comes To You, You Are Lucky
Just know that a lot of kids won’t tell parents, nor close friends about bullying. They keep it all inside which can cause Depression which can lead to teen suicide or in recent reports, elementary school aged suicide. This is becoming more common as the days go by. We can stop this epidemic, but we need help from both sides. If you are reading this more than likely you have kids. Just know, the older they get the more they hide. Not intentionally most of the time. A lot of times they are embarrassed to talk about certain topics. The closer you stay to your child, and the more open you are to them, they will be open to you. We cannot keep our children in the dark or sheltered forever. I have seen this too many times, where sheltered kids have no clue what drinking can do, what sex can do just one time, they have no clue what rap is. I KNOW people like this, I refuse tokeep my child sheltered from the world. She needs to know what crime is out there, the sick maniacs, she needs to watch the news of the bombings, she needs to know there are kids starving to death in other countries. There comes a point where our children need to know the reality’s of life, and what could happen, what has happened, and could even happen to them.
Two Sides To Every Story
Although we know our children’s side is as sincere as possible, we must also remember there s always another child involved, which includes another family not just yours. You must always have open minds when going into this situation. Children/kids/teens get into arguments with best friends/friends. We need to make sure what is being said is actually correct before anything drastic is taken place. Remember going into this make sure you have thoroughly thought this out before making it public where more kids know about, and this could make it worse on your child.
Hear Your Child Out
It is so important that if your child comes to you, listen. Listen to everything, make sure they know you are listening, and you are wiling to help. Make sure you ask questions, reassure them this will be taken care of, and they will be ok. The first step to healing is the one person they trust to go to and tell, actually listens to them, and helps resolve the situation.
Just remember sometimes kids just need to deal with situations on there own, of course depending on the circumstances. A lot of times our children just want the best writers to know we are here for them, and no matter what we are there if they need us!. Whether it be bullying or Cyberbullying, its the same thing. It has to be stopped. We know there will always be immature and cruel people in this world, but if we can teach our children the right way to handle certain situations, it could get a lot better. Know your child, know the signs, make sure they know they can trust you. Until next time my friends.
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