Do you know that if you Google search just the word "bullying," more than 24 million results pop up? It’s one of today’s hottest teen topics in the news, worldwide.
You already know that behind the majority of all the school shootings and violence, somewhere, that word, bullying, is hiding. It’s the first thing we think of as the cause of such devastation.
Bullying has been around for centuries, but in today's world, our cyber technology has taken it to a whole new level. Teens are also getting cyberbullied at the click of a mouse and it's ruining their lives.
Is your teen daughter or granddaughter the target of the bully? Is she being cyberbullied? Ocotober is National Bullying Prevention Month. Here are ways to help her now and throughout the years as she grows up:
- First of all, know that bullies are often people who have been bullied, abused, or feel that they need to protect their power position in their clique, such as the “popular” girl.
- To cope with their stressful situation of their own, they take it out on someone else that they feel is weaker, who has low self-esteem or someone they feel is insecure. Remember, the bully feels the need to be in control and be the center of attention. Regardless their reason, it is wrong!
- Cyberbullying is bullying that takes place using electronic technology-computers, cell phones or tablets- to send out mean text messages or emails and spread rumors posted on websites or social networking sites.
- If your daughter is being cyberbullied, encourage her to change her email address, phone number and only give it out to trusted people. This quickly stops your daughter receiving threatening or damaging emails, text and voice mails.
If the messages are life-threatening, contact and report the threats to your local law enforcement.
- Encourage your daughter to be assertive, calm and tell her not to react to the comments of others if they’re negative. If there isn’t a reaction, the bully might eventually lose interest. If the bully doesn’t lose interest, she needs to tell someone.
- Encourage her not to be alone, but be with a friend when she knows the bully might confront her. There is strength in numbers. On the other hand, if she sees someone else being bullied, encourage her to help that person out of a bad situation.
- Encourage her not to be afraid to report the bullying to an adult.
Philippians 2:3-4 states, Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.
The Lord is equipping and calling you today to help stop bullying. There is strength in numbers. Let’s do this together.
