With the increase in cell phones and computer use, comes a decrease in parents’ involvement. Here are some tips that encourage parents to stay proactive instead of having to react when your son or daughter may be bullied.
- Children should not be online behind closed doors. Place the computer in a public area of the house and monitor the Web pages your teens visit as you walk by.
- Check cell phones for text messaging history.
- Limit the amount of time children use the Internet and cell phones.
- Check the browsing history and if you find the history file empty, your child may be erasing evidence of inappropriate Internet use.
- Use a search engine to search your child’s full name, in quotes, and school to see if they’re mentioned in any blogs or Web sites.
- Talk about the issue with your child, advise them to avoid forwarding hateful messages and to report them to adults.
