5 ways to prevent back-to-school cyberbullying
Online bullying on the rise, but there are ways for parents to help prevent it
With the start of school rapidly approaching, parents have a lot on their mind. And with the proliferation of cellphones and tablets at school, retired Saskatoon Police Sgt. Brian Trainor says students and their parents are facing bullying and cyberbullying like never before.
Trainor says learning how to use the device is key. Here are five ways to prevent cyberbullying in the back-to-school bustle.
1. Know what's on the phone
Trainor recommends getting to know what apps your child has on their phone. Ask questions about how the apps are used and what they are used for.
"It's your phone so check that phone be on top of that phone," said Trainor.
If you don't know what an icon is, ask your kids to tell you about it. He says parents should take it as an opportunity to talk to their kids.
2. Be the parent – not the friend
School is a tough time for some kids and guidance is the primary role of the parent. Trainor suggests parents set some parameters.
"You're not their buddy, not their friend, not their pal," he said.
"We tell them how to cross the street safely. We tell them not to meet strangers away from home. Why aren't we talking to them about the internet?"
3. Teach empathy
Trainor says kids should be taught about empathy rather than sympathy.
"So you feel sorry for someone? Big deal. What good does that do? It doesn't do any good at all. It hasn't changed anything."
Teaching your child to be empathetic will allow them to walk in that person's shoes and feel their pain if they are being bullied, Trainor says.
4. Encourage social activities
Many kids who are seen as loners tend to be picked on, Trainor says. He recommends getting kids involved with clubs, groups or sports teams to make sure they have a strong social network.
If active socializing isn't for your kid, he says parents can work to build up the child's self-esteem and resiliency.
"If that's the road you're going to take you'd better be a strong person, because you're going to have to deal with some negativity as a result of being outside the box and not inside the box."
5. Be the role model
Children learn primarily from their parents and the adults in their life. Trainor says it's important for children to be surrounded by adults that promote empathy and being a good person.
"Bullying is a learned behaviour. It's learned when we're young," he said.
For parents, he says one of the best things they can do is to be good role models.