News
23 August, 2024
How to approach bullying as a parent
National Bullying No Way Week held this month has been shining a light on the scourge of cyberbullying.
The Australian Government funded program, Triple P - Positive Parenting Program, conducted their largest-ever survey of parents and carers, which showed eight out of 10 parents are concerned about keeping their children safe from online dangers, like cyberbullying, while parents with children aged 6-11 years are the least confi dent in their ability to know what to do if their child is getting bullied.
Triple P International Country Director, Carol Markie-Dadds, said last week was a timely reminder that parents and carers play a key role in preventing and helping their children respond to bullying in all its forms.
“It takes time and practice for children to learn how to spot potentially unsafe situations, make good decisions, and know when to speak to a trusted adult if something worrying happens,” she said.
“Having honest and regular conversations with our kids makes a big difference in helping children develop these skills at home, in school, and in the wider community.”
Ms Markie-Dadds said the top three ways to talk to kids about cyberbullying are: Start the conversation – you don’t always have to have long, serious talks about cyberbullying.
Casual, frequent chats work well too. With younger kids, keep it simple and talk about being kind online.
With tweens and teens, respect their need for more privacy and show interest in their online activities.
Help kids feel prepared – “What if” scenarios help kids feel prepared to handle tricky situations.
Create a calm, supportive space – Kids often feel embarrassed or scared to talk to their parents about things happening online, especially if they think they’ll get in trouble.
Tell them it’s okay to feel afraid or worried, and they won’t get in trouble for coming to you.
“Bullying can seriously impact a child’s mental health and wellbeing throughout their school years and well into adulthood,” Ms MarkieDadds says.
Triple P’s free online parenting programs help carers to confidently handle challenges.
There’s a free online program for raising kids aged 0-12, and another specifically for parents and carers of kids who are frequently anxious. Visit triplep-parenting.net.au
