Parents
How to keep your kids safe online:
Help your kids understand that they should:
- Never share personal information such as their full names, address, or phone numbers
- Never send pictures to strangers
- Never open emails from strangers, as it may contain a virus
- Always keep passwords safe (except for parents)
- Only visit age appropriate sites
- Immediately tell a responsible adult if something creepy, mean, or suspicious happens
What should you do?
- Get involved
- Check the sites your kids are visiting
- Know your child's password
- Have the computer sitting where the family can see it, not in a private bedroom
- Use filtering software to block certain sites
If your Child is being Bullied:
What to look for:
- Excuses for not wanting to go to school
- Unexplained bruises, injuries, and lost items
- Sleeping problems
- Needing extra school supplies or lunch money
- Rushes to bathroom when returning home from school
- Secretive
- Has a temper
- Frequent trips to the nurse
Steps to Bully-Proof your Child:
- Let the school know your concerns
- Encourage friendships
- Don't advise ignoring or attacking the bully
- Help your child become assertive towards the bully
- Explain to them not to threaten or provoke the bully
- Your child should tell the bully how they feel & let them know that they aren't going to put up with it. Then simply, walk away.
What if your child is the bully?
What do you do?
- Evaluate if the bully attitude is present at home
- Seek counsel if necessary
- Do not use physical punishment or humiliation, simply take away privileges
- Put an immediate stop to any bullying you observe
Helping your child to stop bullying:
- Let your child know that bullying is unacceptable & there will be severe consequences if it continues
- Try to understand the reason behind your child's behavior and take charge
- Some kids bully because they have trouble managing strong emotions like anger, frustration, or insecurity.
- Some kids haven't learned out proper ways to work out conflict and understand differences.
- Teach your child to respect others and treat them with kindness
- Learn about your child's social life
- Encourage good behavior and reward them if something good happens
- Set a good example
- Seek counsel if necessary