(StatePoint) With school bullying a growing issue that is prompting many states to adopt anti-bullying laws, parents need to learn to recognize signs of bullying and how to help their children deal with the problem.
For years, bullying was considered by many to be a normal part of growing up, a "rite of passage." That antiquated thinking is being replaced by more progressive understanding of peer abuse, its causes and consequences.
"Everyone asks me if bullying is any worse today than it was 30 years ago. The cruelty that kids perpetrate is the same but the weapons to achieve it are more sophisticated. With the Internet, Facebook and texting, students can't even escape bullying in their own homes," says survivor turned activist, Jodee Blanco, author of The New York Times bestseller, "Please Stop Laughing at Me..." and its award winning sequel, "Please Stop Laughing at Us."
Blanco, who travels the nation's schools sharing her story, says that when addressing students her message is two-fold: It's not just joking around, bullying damages you for life. And bullying isn't only the mean things you do, but the nice things you never do, like letting someone sit alone at lunch or walk to class alone -- such exclusion often hurts more than overt abuse.
Here are some tips to help children deal with bullying:
* Look for signs your child may be a victim of peer cruelty -- change in appetite, depression, fits of rage, frequent illnesses or faking sick, or spending too much time alone in his or her room.
* Fix the problem, not your kid. It's often what's right about a child that makes him or her a target. Encourage children not to change who they are for anyone, that who they are is wonderful and you're proud of their individuality.
* Don't tell your child to ignore bullies and walk away. Grown up logic doesn't work in teen situations. Tell your child to look the mean kid in the eye, show absolutely no emotion, and simply tell him or her to stop.
* Find an interim social outlet where your child can experience a fresh start with new faces. Contact the nearest park district and public library that do not feed into your school district and ask them to send you lists of their activities for kids, then enroll your child in an activity of choice.
* Be your child's advocate. Reach out to other parents whose children are being bullied and organize a coalition. Go up the ladder until you get results, starting with the school counselor all the way to the school board.
For more advice on preventing and dealing with bullying or to invite Jodee Blanco to speak at your child's school, visit jodeeblanco.com.
As Blanco frequently reminds bullying victims, "Standing up for yourself in the moment abuse occurs is your human right. Seeking vengeance later on is a mistake. So be brave, and speak up."
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Showing posts with label abuse. Show all posts
Showing posts with label abuse. Show all posts
Monday, August 9, 2010
Tuesday, December 8, 2009
Parent Alert: Cough Medicine
Dr. Drew's Tips For Talking To Your Teen
(NAPSI)-Cough medicine abuse can touch any family. Even if your teens don't have an issue, they live in a world where the issue exists. While cough medicines containing dextromethorphan, or DXM, are safe and effective when used as directed, they can be dangerous when abused in extreme amounts to get high.
The key to prevention is education and talking about the dangers of abuse. To help parents have a conversation about cough medicine abuse, Dr. Drew Pinsky, host of the popular radio show "Loveline" and the star of VH1 hits "Celebrity Rehab with Dr. Drew" and "Sober House," offers parents this advice about starting the discussion with your teens about cough medicine abuse:
1. It is never too early to bring this up with your teenagers. Any opportunity to discuss it is a good opportunity.
2. Do not worry about violating your teenager's trust. Trust must be verified. Bring it up.
3. A good time to talk about difficult issues with your teenagers is in the car. You are both looking forward, it isn't as intense as eyeball to eyeball, so you can throw stuff out and see how your teenager responds.
4. If your teenager refuses to talk to you, one approach is to talk to one of his or her peers with your teenager present. Triangulate the conversation so your teenager has the opportunity to hear your point of view while you discuss it with one of his or her peers.
5. Remember that hormonal variations, particularly during the teen years, can affect their receptivity to conversations. A good time to talk, particularly to younger females, is in the evening hours after 9 PM. Head up to your teenager's room, sit down and bring up this topic.
"Parents have far more power than they realize to keep their kids drug-free. Kids who learn about the dangers of drug abuse from their parents are half as likely to have an issue," said Dr. Drew. "Parents should visit www.StopMedicineAbuse.org to get educated and get talking to their teens."
Parents can also look for a new educational icon on the packaging of a majority of OTC cough medicines. The icon serves as a mini public service announcement for parents, making them aware of the issue of cough medicine abuse among teens and pointing them to www.StopMedicineAbuse.org, where they can access resources they need to talk to their teen about the issue.
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(NAPSI)-Cough medicine abuse can touch any family. Even if your teens don't have an issue, they live in a world where the issue exists. While cough medicines containing dextromethorphan, or DXM, are safe and effective when used as directed, they can be dangerous when abused in extreme amounts to get high.
The key to prevention is education and talking about the dangers of abuse. To help parents have a conversation about cough medicine abuse, Dr. Drew Pinsky, host of the popular radio show "Loveline" and the star of VH1 hits "Celebrity Rehab with Dr. Drew" and "Sober House," offers parents this advice about starting the discussion with your teens about cough medicine abuse:
1. It is never too early to bring this up with your teenagers. Any opportunity to discuss it is a good opportunity.
2. Do not worry about violating your teenager's trust. Trust must be verified. Bring it up.
3. A good time to talk about difficult issues with your teenagers is in the car. You are both looking forward, it isn't as intense as eyeball to eyeball, so you can throw stuff out and see how your teenager responds.
4. If your teenager refuses to talk to you, one approach is to talk to one of his or her peers with your teenager present. Triangulate the conversation so your teenager has the opportunity to hear your point of view while you discuss it with one of his or her peers.
5. Remember that hormonal variations, particularly during the teen years, can affect their receptivity to conversations. A good time to talk, particularly to younger females, is in the evening hours after 9 PM. Head up to your teenager's room, sit down and bring up this topic.
"Parents have far more power than they realize to keep their kids drug-free. Kids who learn about the dangers of drug abuse from their parents are half as likely to have an issue," said Dr. Drew. "Parents should visit www.StopMedicineAbuse.org to get educated and get talking to their teens."
Parents can also look for a new educational icon on the packaging of a majority of OTC cough medicines. The icon serves as a mini public service announcement for parents, making them aware of the issue of cough medicine abuse among teens and pointing them to www.StopMedicineAbuse.org, where they can access resources they need to talk to their teen about the issue.
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Tuesday, October 20, 2009
Verizon Wireless Announces Plans for Teen Dating Violence Educational Campaign in Georgia
/PRNewswire/ -- In recognition of October as National Domestic Violence Awareness Month, Verizon Wireless announced today their plans to create a new program in Georgia designed to foster open communication between parents and their teens regarding healthy relationships. The Letter to My Child campaign, intended to prevent teen dating violence, will be launched in the spring of 2010. Over the next few months Verizon Wireless will develop an online community for parents to turn to for communication tips and help from other sources and peers. The website will provide online resources for parents and teens to inform them about teen dating violence and sexual assault and offer additional resources to seek help.
"Our hope is that this homegrown program will reset the expectations, norms and behaviors of our young men and women, ultimately keeping our teens safer, happier and healthier," said Jeff Mango, president, Verizon Wireless Georgia/Alabama Region. "Through Letter to My Child, we will encourage parents to write letters to their teenagers, opening up the conversation regarding healthy relationships. We think the spring is a good time to launch this program, considering April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month and that teens are getting ready for prom season, when there is much dating pressure."
With the Letter to My Child program, Verizon Wireless will ask Georgia's parents to write their teens letters encouraging them to seek healthy relationships and defining unhealthy behaviors. The program's aim is to educate parents about the role they play in preventing dating violence while also teaching teens about the signs to look for in their friends' and own relationships, their options and helping them make healthy choices.
Verizon Wireless is a recognized corporate leader for its commitment to preventing domestic/dating violence and raising awareness of the issue through their HopeLine program. HopeLine is a multifaceted program that includes a successful phone recycling and re-use effort, financial support for local and national domestic violence organizations, community and corporate awareness programs, and partnerships with law enforcement agencies, professional sports teams, educational institutions and corporations nationwide. Via their work with HopeLine, the company recognizes the need to teach young people about healthy relationships at an early age.
Consider these facts:
-- 1 in 3 teenagers report knowing a friend or peer who has been hit,
punched, kicked, slapped, choked or physically hurt by their partner.
-- 1 in 4 teenage girls who have been in relationships reveal they have
been pressured to perform or engage in sexual activity.
-- More than 1 in 4 teenage girls in a relationship (26%) report enduring
repeated verbal abuse by their partner.
-- If trapped in an abusive relationship, 73% of teens said they would
turn to a friend (not a parent) for help; but only 33% who have been
in or known about an abusive relationship said they have told anyone
about it.
"We have been very involved for years with organizations and shelters that help victims of domestic violence in Georgia, through grants, phone collection efforts and hands-on volunteerism," said Mango. "We now want to reach out specifically to teens, when they start building romantic relationships, with a goal of preventing domestic violence before it starts."
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"Our hope is that this homegrown program will reset the expectations, norms and behaviors of our young men and women, ultimately keeping our teens safer, happier and healthier," said Jeff Mango, president, Verizon Wireless Georgia/Alabama Region. "Through Letter to My Child, we will encourage parents to write letters to their teenagers, opening up the conversation regarding healthy relationships. We think the spring is a good time to launch this program, considering April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month and that teens are getting ready for prom season, when there is much dating pressure."
With the Letter to My Child program, Verizon Wireless will ask Georgia's parents to write their teens letters encouraging them to seek healthy relationships and defining unhealthy behaviors. The program's aim is to educate parents about the role they play in preventing dating violence while also teaching teens about the signs to look for in their friends' and own relationships, their options and helping them make healthy choices.
Verizon Wireless is a recognized corporate leader for its commitment to preventing domestic/dating violence and raising awareness of the issue through their HopeLine program. HopeLine is a multifaceted program that includes a successful phone recycling and re-use effort, financial support for local and national domestic violence organizations, community and corporate awareness programs, and partnerships with law enforcement agencies, professional sports teams, educational institutions and corporations nationwide. Via their work with HopeLine, the company recognizes the need to teach young people about healthy relationships at an early age.
Consider these facts:
-- 1 in 3 teenagers report knowing a friend or peer who has been hit,
punched, kicked, slapped, choked or physically hurt by their partner.
-- 1 in 4 teenage girls who have been in relationships reveal they have
been pressured to perform or engage in sexual activity.
-- More than 1 in 4 teenage girls in a relationship (26%) report enduring
repeated verbal abuse by their partner.
-- If trapped in an abusive relationship, 73% of teens said they would
turn to a friend (not a parent) for help; but only 33% who have been
in or known about an abusive relationship said they have told anyone
about it.
"We have been very involved for years with organizations and shelters that help victims of domestic violence in Georgia, through grants, phone collection efforts and hands-on volunteerism," said Mango. "We now want to reach out specifically to teens, when they start building romantic relationships, with a goal of preventing domestic violence before it starts."
-----
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Monday, June 29, 2009
How To Talk To Your Children About "Sexting"
(NAPSI)-Talking to children about relationships has always been a challenge for parents, but in recent years it has become even more so. Not only are children becoming sexually active at younger ages, but today's technology--computers, cell phones, etc.--tends to make youngsters feel more independent and grown up.
In this environment, the questions young people have about appropriate behavior are increasingly complicated. One common issue is "sexting," which is defined as the act of sending sexually explicit messages or photos electronically, primarily between cell phones. This can be a form of abuse.
According to the Family Violence Prevention Fund (FVPF), teens and young women are especially vulnerable to relationship violence. Approximately one in three adolescent girls in the U.S. is a victim of physical, emotional or verbal abuse from a dating partner. Females ages 16 to 24 experience the highest rates of rape and sexual assault, and people ages 18 and 19 experience the highest rates of stalking.
To help parents, coaches, teachers, mentors and others talk to children about healthy, loving, respectful relationships, the FVPF, with national support from Macy's, has developed RESPECT! Tools, a collection of tips, information and conversation starters. These resources include:
• 10 quick tips for parents on how to talk to your kids about healthy relationships;
• A guide for parents on how to talk to a child of any age about the importance of respect in healthy relationships;
• 10 "Dinner Table Topics" using everyday examples to talk about the importance of respect in relationships;
• A quiz for teens to help them determine whether or not they or their friends are in healthy relationships; and
• A list of warning signs that a child may be in an unhealthy relationship.
"As a mom, it's important to me that we teach children about building respectful and healthy relationships," said singer and RESPECT! Campaign spokesperson Christina Aguilera. "We all have the power to give respect and help create a world free from violence and abuse."
The Family Violence Prevention Fund works to end violence against women and children around the world, because every person has the right to live free of violence. For more information, visit www.GiveRespect.org or www.EndAbuse.org.
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In this environment, the questions young people have about appropriate behavior are increasingly complicated. One common issue is "sexting," which is defined as the act of sending sexually explicit messages or photos electronically, primarily between cell phones. This can be a form of abuse.
According to the Family Violence Prevention Fund (FVPF), teens and young women are especially vulnerable to relationship violence. Approximately one in three adolescent girls in the U.S. is a victim of physical, emotional or verbal abuse from a dating partner. Females ages 16 to 24 experience the highest rates of rape and sexual assault, and people ages 18 and 19 experience the highest rates of stalking.
To help parents, coaches, teachers, mentors and others talk to children about healthy, loving, respectful relationships, the FVPF, with national support from Macy's, has developed RESPECT! Tools, a collection of tips, information and conversation starters. These resources include:
• 10 quick tips for parents on how to talk to your kids about healthy relationships;
• A guide for parents on how to talk to a child of any age about the importance of respect in healthy relationships;
• 10 "Dinner Table Topics" using everyday examples to talk about the importance of respect in relationships;
• A quiz for teens to help them determine whether or not they or their friends are in healthy relationships; and
• A list of warning signs that a child may be in an unhealthy relationship.
"As a mom, it's important to me that we teach children about building respectful and healthy relationships," said singer and RESPECT! Campaign spokesperson Christina Aguilera. "We all have the power to give respect and help create a world free from violence and abuse."
The Family Violence Prevention Fund works to end violence against women and children around the world, because every person has the right to live free of violence. For more information, visit www.GiveRespect.org or www.EndAbuse.org.
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