As children’s modes of communication become increasingly non-personal and instant, parents are often in the dark as to who their children are in constant contact with. The new generation seems to be permanently connected to the internet and each other. Their level of communication is not of their parent’s reality nor, in some cases, comprehension. With no tangible feedback or consequences to their actions, children are becoming bolder and less inhibited in their internet activities. Sometimes with dire personal and even legal consequences.
Tips On Bullying Prevention From Three Experts
- Encourage children to turn off and disconnect for a while every day recommends Bill Belsey, founder and President of Bullying.org. Parents should schedule regular time to spend with their children where cyber activity is banned for both parties. Children should also be encouraged to spend one-on-one time with their friends in face-to-face time rather than virtual time. Belsey also advocates that no one, adult, child or teen, should send a message when angry. Wait until you have had time to calm down and think over the situation. Like the spoken word, written words can not be retracted.
- Communicate to children the moral values and social expectations as they pertain to the avoidance of doing harm to other stresses Nancy Willard, executive director of The Center for Safe and Responsible Internet Use. The need for people to understand and recognize how actions can harm people they cannot see has never been greater than it is right now.
- Parents need to learn everything they can about the internet and their children’s online activities is the advice of the Media Awareness Network. Encourage children to come to you if they feel uncomfortable or threatened about anything or anyone. Staying calm will keep these lines of communication and trust open.
All the experts emphasize that children should know that they don’t have to respond immediately, or even at all, to an e-mail. E-mails or text messages from strangers should be treated with suspicion. If in doubt, a child should be encouraged to ask a trusted adult for assistance. If cyber bullying or online harassment is suspected, save the messages and report the incident to your local police and your Internet Service Provider (ISP). No one deserves to be treated in this manner, and no one should have to deal with bullying on their own.
For further information:
Bullying.org Canada
The Center for Safe and Responsible Internet Use
Media Awareness Network Canada
