LEARN THE NEW INTERNET TRENDS THAT ESCALATE BULLYING INCIDENTS, AND FIND OUT ABOUT THE HIDDEN FACTOR WHICH AFFECTS BULLYING THAT NO ONE WANTS TO TALK ABOUT.
Do you know how it feels to be called “fat and ugly” every day for years? I do! I have been over weight my entire life. From grade school, up to and including my freshman year of college, my peers reminded me of this fact. From being spat on, to kids cutting out pictures of farm animals and placing them in my locker, I have experienced various levels of bullying.
My personal experiences are nothing compared to what children have to endure today. Technology has taken bullying to a dangerous and sinister level. For example, many parents may be unaware that children are creating polling pages to vote on who is the fattest, ugliest, easiest, etc., at their school. They place the polling page and the subsequent results on the web, wherever the children from their particular school gathers. There’s also the thousands of cell phone videos uploaded depicting the various acts of bullying.
So, what is the missing piece of the puzzle regarding bullying? The answer: is; parent involvement. A parent has the responsibility to teach their child how to be a responsible digital citizen! How can a parent know if their child is being bullied or if he or she is the actual bully, if they are not involved in all aspects of their children’s digital world?
Involvement allows the parent to empower the bullied child to realize they are not alone! This parent helps to rebuild broken self esteem and navigates through all entities (teachers, principal, bus driver etc.) until a real plan is created to decrease new bullying behaviors. Involvement allows the parent of the bully to redirect and educate the child about behaviors which are not acceptable within and outside of the home.
Then, we come to the hardest factor of bullying some do not consider: the parents life example! A parent can’t effectively teach tolerance and respect when their personal behavior is contradictory to these principals. This same child many times, goes to school or the net and projects onto others, the example they see and live at home.
Please parents, know all passwords, who your child is communicating with and how they conduct themselves in the digital world. Remember, your child watches everything you do. Allow your actions to be the legacy of character you are proud to leave.
Your diligence may change or save your child’s life or for the parent of a bully: the lives of other children! Don’t let inaction become the next headline!
By CLETA PAIGE-CAIN
Author and Founder of The Evolve Project
theevolveproject.org
Cleta Paige-Cain is the founder of The Evolve Project, a performance art, anti-bullying and positive self-esteem program. Her first book, “How to Raise a Good Person” will be available on Amazon in late March. To receive notification when her book is available visit:
theevolveproject.org/parents-corner.