The new school year is an opportunity for parents and teachers to put fresh emphasis on bullying prevention by supporting the development of healthy social groups and friendships.
Here are some daily tips for getting the school year off to a good start. These “press the reset button” ground rules also work well at the start of a new semester or outside school hours – for after-school teams or group activities. They work at home, too – anytime you want to clear the air and start fresh.
We’ll post a new tip each day, adding to our bullying prevention “toolkit”. Check back daily!
Click here for all Bullying Prevention Tips.
20 Tips For Bully-Free Schools – Tip #17
Balance Cyberfriends With Face-To-Face Friendships.
Our kids’ friendships rely heavily on social networking, but it’s not a replacement for, nor will it teach the skills of, face-to-face friendships. Help kids develop both aspects of today’s peer relationships. Encourage classroom activities that build cooperative learning skills. Discuss appropriate (and inappropriate) online behavior. At home, set limits for computer time, discuss behavioral boundaries (echo and amplify the school’s guidelines), enroll kids in programs with friends, and invite friends over after school and on weekends frequently. Yes, it takes effort, but the results are worth it.
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