Bullying at school and online: Tips for parents to prevent bullying
“Bullying tends to go unnoticed by adults until it escalates significantly.”
By Maria Sarina, Coordinator of Counselling, Australian Christian College Marsden Park
We often hear the term ‘bullying’ and recognize it when we see it. However, what does it truly mean, and how can we prevent it?
According to the Human Rights Commission, bullying involves intentional and repeated behavior that causes physical, emotional, or social harm to someone with less power than the bully.
Moreover, physical and emotional bullying take on various forms, so it is crucial for teachers and parents to stay informed and vigilant.
These include:
- Physical
- Verbal
- Social
- Cyber / online
- Emotional & psychological
- Coercive control (NB. This is a newer phenomenon however very present in school contexts)
Bullying No Way Week to help prevent bullying
Bullying No Way Week, 12-16 August 2024, is Australia’s main initiative for preventing bullying. The theme for 2024 is ‘Everyone belongs’.
When we all feel like we belong, bullying struggles to find a place. It’s about embracing who we are, respecting everyone’s differences and standing up together against unkindness.
Belonging means we all have a role in preventing bullying. We’re encouraged to speak up and create a safe place where everyone feels supported and respected.
Despite schools condemning bullying, discrimination, harassment, and abuse, statistics and real-life experiences show these issues remain prevalent in schools.
So, how do we recognise this harmful behaviour and work towards preventing it?
How educators can prevent bullying in schools
Each school community must create a culture that actively uses strategies and measures to prevent harm. This includes honest enrolment interviews, clear student guidelines, annual reminders of expectations, and ongoing staff training.
Help your child deal with bullies
Bullying often goes unnoticed by adults until it escalates, but parents can learn to help prevent or detect it. There are several proactive steps you can take to support your child and address bullying effectively:
Open communication: Maintain honest dialogue with your child. Encourage them to share their experiences and feelings, assuring them of your support.
Recognise the signs: Watch for changes in behaviour, such as reluctance to go to school or unexplained injuries, which could signal bullying.
Educate your child: Teach your child about bullying and emphasize the importance of reporting incidents. Make sure they understand that bullying is not their fault.
Build confidence: Enhance your child’s self-esteem by involving them in activities they enjoy and excel at.
Encourage friendships: Foster healthy relationships that offer emotional support and a sense of belonging. Encourage interactions with kind and respectful peers.
Establish trust: Ensure your child feels comfortable discussing their concerns with you. Avoid judgment and create an open, supportive environment.
What else can you do to prevent bullying?
Manage your reactions and gather information: Stay calm and process information before reacting. Approach school discussions with an open mind.
Contact the school: Reach out to your child’s school if you suspect bullying. Collaborate on strategies to address the issue.
Document incidents: Keep a record of bullying incidents, including dates, times, and details. This information can help in discussions with the school.
Teach assertiveness: Help your child develop skills to stand up for themselves without escalating conflicts.
Monitor online activity: Oversee your child’s use of social media and online platforms, ensuring they follow safe internet practices.
Seek professional help: Consult a bullying and child behaviour specialist if your child’s wellbeing is affected.
Your support can make a significant difference in your child’s well-being. Stay informed, communicate openly, and take proactive steps to help them handle bullying challenges with resilience and confidence.
Resources for parents on bullying
A number of Australian resources are available to provide valuable advice to parents. Organisations like Bullying. No Way! offer comprehensive resources for parents, educators, and students to address and prevent bullying.
Reach out to the Kids Helpline, Australia’s national 24/7 telephone and online counselling service for young people.
Similarly, the Parentline offers confidential telephone counselling service for parents and carers.
Bullying is not a new phenomenon, but its manifestation in the digital age has given it new dimensions. At the heart of the issue lies the emotional well-being of our children. Bullying can lead to lasting psychological scars, hampering a child’s confidence, self-esteem, and overall mental health.
Snapchat launch new safety features to prevent online bulllying
Snapchat, used by 8 million Australians each month, has new safety features to protect young users from online harm. These tools enhance safeguards against bullying with expanded in-chat warnings, improved friending protections, better blocking options, and simplified location-sharing.
The new Snapchat safeguards announced in June, 2024 include:
Expanded in-app warnings: In November 2023, Snapchat introduced a pop-up warning for teens receiving messages from users outside their contacts or mutual friends, urging caution and trust. Since then, this feature has led to over 12 million blocks. Now, these warnings include alerts for chats from blocked or reported users and those from unfamiliar regions, indicating potential scammers.
Enhanced friending protections: Snapchat now adds new friending safeguards to make it harder for strangers to find and add teens. The platform will block friend requests from users without mutual friends and from locations known for scamming activities. This update, along with expanded in-app warnings, helps combat sophisticated sextortion scams, often perpetrated by criminals outside Australia.
Blocking improvements: Snapchat is enhancing its blocking tools to prevent harassment. Now, blocking a user will also block new friend requests from accounts created on the same device, reducing repeat harassment attempts.
Simplified location-sharing and additional reminders: Snapchat will send more frequent reminders to check and update location-sharing settings on the Snap Map. Users can now more easily manage who sees their location and ensure their settings are up to date. Location sharing remains off by default, and users can only share their location with existing friends, not the wider community.
These updates continue Snapchat’s efforts to enhance safety for teens.
