Tips for Parents What is Cyber Bullying?

Cyber bullying is bullying through electronic means, such as

1. First, focus on your child. Be supportive and e-mail, instant messaging, Internet-chatting, Website posts,
gather information about the bullying.
2. Contact your child's teacher or principal.
text messages, or cell phone images. Cyber bullying is
different from traditional bullying in that: Resources on
The bully enjoys anonymity.
Bullying at the
3. Help your child become more resilient to bullying.
There can be millions of “bystanders” in the cyber world
For more information, please see the U.S. to witness the event.
Department of Health and Human Services
Stop Bullying Now! Website at http://
Many victims do not report the bullying for fear of having
their technology being taken away from them as a result.
Rhame Avenue Library
stopbullyingnow.hrsa.gov/adults/tip-sheets/tip-
sheet-23.aspx Tips for Educators
Develop rules and policies that prohibit the use of district Compiled by Christine Storz
computers to bully or harass others. These can be
Nonfiction Resources available incorporated into existing policies that address acceptable
uses of technology by students (often termed “acceptable use
at the Rhame Avenue Library policies”).
Communicate only in ways that are kind and respectful.
Let’s Talk About Bullying Report threatening or upsetting materials to a teacher.
By Angela Grunsell Do not intentionally access, transmit, copy, or create
London and New York: Gloucester material that violates the school’s code of conduct, such as
Press, 1990 messages that are pornographic, threatening, rude,
Discusses bullying, why it occurs, and discriminatory, or meant to bully or harass.
how it can be handled. For more information, see: http://olweus.org/public/
cyber_bullying.page?menuheader=1

A Children’s Book About Being Bullied Tips for Parents

By Joy Berry
United States: Grolier Corp., 1988 Teach your child how to communicate appropriately in
This series examines issues which cyberspace. Explain how easy it is for messages to be
affect children's lives or add to their misinterpreted online.
growing awareness of the world. The Discuss with your child what information is appropriate to
books aim to answer those questions share online and what information is too private/personal.
most asked by children. This title Younger children should be prohibited from sending and
examines bullying - a subject which is of intense concern to sharing personal photos online or through a cellular phone
many children. without your permission. Discuss with tweens/teens with
whom they can share photos and what types of photos are
appropriate.

Works Cited Make sure your child understands the importance of

keeping their passwords private. Good friends may become
enemies and could wreak havoc if they know your child’s Rhame Avenue Elementary School Library
“What Adults Can Do Tip Sheets.” Stop Bullying Now! U.S. Dept. passwords.
of Health and Human Services, n.d. Web. 1 May 2010. <http:// Online friends should be friends in the real world. Mrs. A. Buckley, School Media Specialist
stopbullyingnow.hrsa.gov/adults/tip-sheets/tip-sheet-21.aspx>. Google your child’s name regularly. Teach him/her the
importance of building a positive online reputation for the
100 Rhame Avenue
“What Is Cyber Bullying?” Olweus Bullying Prevention Program.
Hazelden and Clemson University, 2010. Web. 1 May 2010. future, because colleges and employers may search online East Rockaway, NY 11518
<http://olweus.org/public/cyber_bullying.page? for information about him/her.
menuheader=1>. For more information, see: http://olweus.org/public/ www.eastrockawayschools.org
cyber_bullying.page?menuheader=1
About Bullying Picture Books Fiction
Bullying is an intentional, aggressive behavior that involves an
imbalance of power. Often, bullying is repeated over time. Willy the Wimp The Bully of Barkham Street
Bullying can take the form of hitting, punching, teasing, name- By Anthony Browne By Mary Stolz
calling, intimidation, and social exclusion. Studies show that New York: Knopf, 1984 New York: Harper & Row, 1963
15-25% of American students are bullied with some A young chimpanzee, tired of being bullied An eleven-year-old bully learns that he must
frequency. by the suburban gorilla gang, decides to build change himself if he wants people to like him.
up his muscles so he won't be a wimp
This brochure can serve as a resource to educators in dealing anymore.
with students who are victims of bullying in the school
environment, and also for students who are the perpetrators. The Recess Queen
There are also tips included for concerned parents. By Alexis O'Neill,
illustrated by Laura Huliska-Beith The Lemonade Trick
Tips for Educators New York: Scholastic Press, 2002
Mean Jean is the biggest bully on the school
By Scott Corbett
Boston: Little, Brown, 1960
playground until a new girl arrives and A mysterious potion mixed by Kerby with
Best Practices in Bullying Prevention and Intervention challenges Jean's status as the Recess Queen. his chemistry set has a beneficial effect on
the neighborhood bully but also wreaks
1. Focus on the social environment of the school. Loudmouth George and the Sixth-Grade Bully havoc at the Sunday School pageant.
2. Assess bullying at your school. By Nancy Carlson
3. Garner staff and parent support for bullying New York: Puffin Books, 1985
prevention. After having his lunch repeatedly stolen by a The Playground Bully
4. Form a group to coordinate the school's bullying bully twice his size, Loudmouth George and By Marcia Jones
his friend Harriet teach him a lesson he'll New York: Scholastic, 2001
prevention activities.
never forget. Jack is confused. Why does he, Jack, the
5. Train your staff in bullying prevention. Wonder Dog, have to go to school? So he
6. Establish and enforce school rules and policies barks a bit too loud and doesn't always
related to bullying. heel. But soon Jack is busy making new
For example, one comprehensive program, the Also Available: friends at school and trying to stay clear of
Olweus Bullying Prevention Program (see http:// Arthur’s April Fool by Marc Brown, New York: Little, Brown, 1983 the bully Doberman, Sweetcakes. What
Hairy Maclary from Donaldson's Dairy by Lynley Dodd, Milwaukee: G.
olweus.org/public/index.page for more information) Stevens, 1985
else is a Wonder Dog to do except join in
recommends that schools adopt four Making Friends by Kathleen N. Daly, Beverly, MA: Parker Bros., 1984 the fun?
straightforward rules about bullying:
We will not bully others.
We will try to help students who are bullied. Easy Readers Shredderman #1: Secret Identity
By Wendelin Van Draanen
We will make it a point to include students who New York: Knopf, 2004
Jake Drake, Bully Buster
are easily left out. Fifth-grader Nolan Byrd, tired of being
By Andrew Clements
If we know someone is being bullied, we will tell called names by the class bully, has a secret
New York: Aladdin, 2001
an adult at school and an adult at home. identity--Shredderman!
Jake faces the challenge of cooperating with the
7. Increase adult supervision in hot spots where school bully on a class project.
bullying occurs.
8. Intervene consistently and appropriately in bullying Bully Trouble
situations. By Joanna Cole, Also Available:
9. Focus some class time on bullying prevention. illustrated by Marylin Hafner Help, Pink Pig! by C.S. Adler, New York: G.P. Putnam's Sons, 1990
New York: Random House, 1989 How to Be Cool in the Third Grade by Betsy Duffey, New York:
10. Continue these efforts over time.
Arlo and Robby, finding themselves the victims of Puffin Books, 1995
a neighborhood bully, work out a red-hot scheme The Life of Me (Enter at Your Own Risk) by Henry Winkler and Lin
For more information, please see the U.S. for discouraging him. Oliver, New York: Grosset & Dunlap, 2008
Department of Health and Human Services Hot Hand by Mike Lupica, New York: Puffin Books/Walden Media,
Stop Bullying Now! Website at http:// 2009
Also Available: The Ears of Louis by Constance C. Greene, New York: Viking Press,
stopbullyingnow.hrsa.gov/adults/tip-sheets/tip-sheet Grandma’s Trick-or-Treat by Emily Arnold McCully, New York: Harper- 1974
-23.aspx Trophy, 2002