Preventing Cyberbullying

Children, parents, and educators all have a role in preventing cyberbullying

Children, parents, and educators all have a role in preventing cyberbullying.

What Parents Can Do

Many of these points were adapted from National Crime Prevention Council 2003 and Media Awareness Network 2004:

• Don’t put a computer in your young child’s bedroom. Keep your computer is a busy area of your home.
• Set up e-mail and chat accounts with your children. Make sure that you know their screen names and passwords and that they don't include any personal information in their online profiles.
• Regularly go over their instant messenger "buddy list" with them. Ask who each person is and how your children know him or her.
• Discuss cyberbullying with your children and ask if they have ever experienced it or seen it happen to someone.
• Tell your children that you won't blame them if they are cyberbullied. Emphasize that you won't take away their computer or cell phone privileges - this is the main reason kids don't tell adults when they are cyberbullied.
• Watch out for signs that your child is being bullied online - a reluctance to use the computer or go to school may be an indication.
• Contact your child's school, local police or your Internet Service Provider if the bullying is severe. It's a criminal offence to threaten another person.

>> Next, what educators can do to prevent cyberbullying.