Anti-Bullying Resources

What is bullying?

Bullying is aggressive behavior that is persistent, intentional and involves an imbalance of power or strength.  Traditionally bullying involves actions such as hitting, teasing, and or intimidation through social exclusion.  In addition, cyberbullying is bullying through the electronic media.

The four types of bullying are:

• Physical
• Verbal 
• Cyber 
• Relational  

What are the possible warning signs of bullying?

Warning signs for parents may include, but are not limited to, when your child:

• Comes home with damaged or missing clothing or other belongings
• Reports losing items such as books, electronics, clothing, or jewelry
• Has unexplained injuries
• Complains frequently of headaches, stomach-aches, or feeling sick
• Has trouble sleeping or has frequent bad dreams
• Has changes in eating habits
• Hurts himself or herself
• Is very hungry after school from not eating their lunch
• Runs away from home
• Loses interest in visiting or talking with friends
• Is afraid of going to school or other activities with peers
• Loses interest in school work or begins to do poorly in school
• Appears sad, moody, angry, anxious or depressed when they come home
• Talks about suicide
• Feels helpless
• Often feels like they are not good enough
• Blames themselves for their problems
• Suddenly has fewer friends
• Avoids certain places
• Acts differently

If you suspect your child is involved in bullying behavior, please consider the following:

• Discuss your concerns with your child
• Determine if your child has been having any particular problems with other children
• Assess if your child is experiencing difficulties in other areas
• Assist your child in understanding the serious nature and consequences of bullying behavior
• Contact your child’s school if you need additional assistance and/or support
• Share your concerns with your child’s teacher or any other significant adult (YFS Coordinator, Guidance Counselor, Psychologist, teacher, coach, scout-leader etc.)

How can you help your child?

• Give strategies for the target/victim:
  • Ignore or walk away
  • Assertively tell the person to stop and then walk away
  • Warn that you will get help from an adult and then walk away
  • Get help - clearly tell an adult what has happened
• Offer support:
  • Speak to your child privately.  Learn about what’s been going on.  Listen, get the facts and assess your child's feelings about the bullying.  Is this the first time he or she has been hurt by bullying or is this something that has been going on for a while?  Assure your child that it is not his or her fault.
  • Praise your child for their courage to discuss bullying incidents with you.  Explain how helpful they are being by providing this important information.

Bullying is unwanted, aggressive behavior among school aged children that involves a real or perceived power imbalance. The behavior is repeated, or has the potential to be repeated, over time. Both kids who are bullied and who bully others may have serious, lasting problems. 

Stop Cyber Bullying

Did You Know?

• 93% of all children between 12-17 use the internet
• 32% of teens clear their browser history to hide information from their parents
• 16% of teens have created private emails and social network pages to hide information from their parents
• 20% of teens have engaged in cyberbullying
• 42% of parents do not review the content of their child’s internet access
• 30% of parents allow their children to use the computer in unsupervised areas

A Digital Footprint - Remember that YouTube, Facebook, and Smart Phones are instantaneous and last forever!

What is Cyberbullying?

• Sending mean, vulgar, or threatening messages or images
• Posting sensitive, private information and/or lies about another person
• Pretending to be someone else in order to make that person look bad
• Intentionally excluding someone from an online group

Where does Cyberbullying occur?

• Email
• Instant messaging
• Text
• Digital images
• Social network sites (Facebook, Club Penguin, Twitter, Oovoo, AIM)
• Web pages
• Blogs
• Chat rooms

The most common places where cyberbullying occurs are:

• Social Media, such as Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, and TikTok
• Text messaging and messaging apps on mobile or tablet devices
• Instant messaging, direct messaging, and online chatting over the internet
• Online forums, chat rooms, and message boards, such as Reddit
• Email
• Online gaming communities

Types of Cyberbullying

• Identity theft - fake profiles might be set up pretending to be an individual with the sole aim of bullying others
• Chat rooms, blogs and forums - although you are supposed to be at least 13 years of age, very few are monitored
• Pictures and photo sharing – videos of girls or boys dressing and undressing in the locker room, etc.
• Text messages and E-mails that are abusive or threatening
• Social media networks, such as Facebook, that post offensive messages about others

What can parents do about Cyberbullying?

• Encourage your child to talk about their friends and share their day
• Don’t overreact until you are sure about the situation
• Encourage your child to share any abusive or offensive material sent to them via the internet or phone
• Turn on safety features to ensure your family only receives messages from approved sources
• Remember it is important to help your child solve the problem, include them in the solution
• If the situation deems necessary, contact your local police department immediately

Cyberbullying is bullying that takes place over digital devices like cell phones, computers, and tablets. Cyberbullying can occur through SMS, Text, and apps, or online in social media, forums, or gaming where people can view, participate in, or share content. Cyberbullying includes sending, posting, or sharing negative, harmful, false, or mean content about someone else. It can include sharing personal or private information about someone else causing embarrassment or humiliation. Some cyberbullying crosses the line into unlawful or criminal behavior. Stop Cyber Bullying

Parents, school staff, and other caring adults have a role to play in preventing bullying. They can: 

• Help kids understand bullying. Talk about what bullying is and how to stand up to it safely. Tell kids bullying is unacceptable. Make sure kids know how to get help.
• Keep the lines of communication open. Check in with kids often. Listen to them. Know their friends, ask about school, and understand their concerns.
• Encourage kids to do what they love. Special activities, interests, and hobbies can boost confidence, help kids make friends, and protect them from bullying behavior.
• Model how to treat others with kindness and respect.

Stop Cyber Bullying

Parents, school staff, and other caring adults have a role to play in preventing bullying. They can: 

• Help kids understand bullying. Talk about what bullying is and how to stand up to it safely. Tell kids bullying is unacceptable. Make sure kids know how to get help.
• Keep the lines of communication open. Check in with kids often. Listen to them. Know their friends, ask about school, and understand their concerns.
• Encourage kids to do what they love. Special activities, interests, and hobbies can boost confidence, help kids make friends, and protect them from bullying behavior.
• Model how to treat others with kindness and respect.

Bullying:
Cyberbullying research center- http://www.cyberbullying.us/
Connect Safely- Smart Social media- http://www.connectsafely.org/
Onguard Online - http://www.onguardonline.gov

Safe Gaming:
http://netsmartz.org/Gaming

CyberSafety:
www.isafe.org

Netiquette:
http://www.edutopia.org/whats-next-2008-netiquette-guidelines

Stop Cyber Bullying

Federal Laws

NYS Laws

District Policy 0115 STUDENT HARASSMENT AND BULLYING PREVENTION AND INTERVENTION

District Policy 4526.3 PROHIBITION OF CYBER BULLYING AND HARASSMENT