We all hear it on the news, see anti commercials about it and see new groups forming against it daily. No I’m not talking about a political party we are against or a new fad sweeping the nation. At least not a fad we want around.
I’m speaking of bullying in schools where our children attend. I am a mother of three, one high school student and two elementary aged students. As a mother I have noticed that bullying has become more rampant in the public school system than before and it doesn’t end there. What can we do? Where do we turn when those in charge are doing nothing about it?
The saddest part of it all is that it’s no longer just in our schools and as a parent I believe we need to monitor all avenues of communication our children have. Does your child use FaceBook? Do they use Twitter? MySpace? Tumblr? It’s everywhere. Bullying is no longer just something that happens face to face at schools. Our children are being bullied on weekends over the internet, in emails and text messages. We as parents have an obligation to make sure our children are safe and unharmed.
One thing I have been doing since our bullying incidents is to monitor their activities and let them know, I don’t care if it is online, text messaging, notes passed around in class or on any of the sites you play on, I want to know so that I can make sure it stops.
What happens when children don’t say anything about the bullying? We have seen too many times on the news of suicides or attempted suicides. If we don’t let our children know we are there for them, no matter how silly or small the act may be, it affects their well being then it needs to be handled. Don’t wait until it is too late and you are left wondering what you could have done different to help them.
Encourage your child to talk to you. Let your child know you are in their corner, at all times. Be aware of your child’s surroundings and their friends. Monitor their activities, be a force to be reckoned with. Let your child know they are not alone. Join online communities against bullying, join or form an anti bullying group in your school or neighborhood.
You have the power to stop bullying, one kid at a time.