How to Support Your Child If They’re Being Cyberbullied 🎥
Bullying looks much different today than it did years ago. Before the prevalence of the internet, kids could escape bullies once they left school and returned to the safety of their home. But now that kids have social media accounts that they can access from virtually anywhere, what should you do if the bullies are behind the screen?
In honor of October being National Bullying Prevention Month, we brought together several experts to speak on the issue. Merve Lapus, VP of Educational Outreach at Common Sense Media led a discussion with Dr. Laura Erickson-Schroth, Chief Medical Officer at The Jed Foundation, Devin Moore, Founder of Race to Speak Up! and bullying prevention advocate, and Dr. Michael Preston, Executive Director at the Joan Ganz Cooney Center at Sesame Workshop.
If your child is being cyberbullied, you may notice changes in their behavior such as a sudden disinterest in going to school or participating in their favorite activities. They may also become more secretive with their phone, deleting and redownloading certain apps.
3 key tips to help a child who is being cyberbullied
- Educate your child about what cyberbullying looks like
- Bullying comes in many different forms, and kids who are new to the internet may be unable to identify what it looks like outside of school.
- Take time to consider the situation to avoid overreacting
- Have open, calm conversations with your child to understand their situation. Fostering a safe environment during difficult conversations makes it more likely that your child will ask you for help again the next time an issue arises.
- Be the hearing ear to their pain
- Your child needs you to listen to them and reassure them that cyberbullying can happen to anyone, even someone as wonderful as them. Let them know that you’re there for them no matter what.
Showing your child that they have a support system at home will reassure them that their lives are brighter than a phone screen. And remember: The damages of cyberbullying do not switch off when their phone does. It’s imperative that you keep an open mind about their experiences online.
Watch the full discussion here
Parents, wondering the 10 warning signs of cyberbullying and what to do? Check out this article.