When talking to your child/youth about bullying consider the following:
How can I help my child stay safe?
Does my child need help to stop bullying others?
What information do I need?
Who has the responsibility to take action?
Where can I go for help
Gather information regarding the bullying situation.
Is this a bullying situation?
Can you work it out yourself?
Do we need to tell another adult?
Acknowledge the Incident
Click here for a safety plan template
Safety Planning for those Being Bullied
The responsibility to protect children from all forms of abuse, including bullying, is the responsibility of parents, teachers, and other adults in the community. It takes a lot of courage for a youth to report a bullying situation. Safety planning is an important part of keeping children and youth safe. Everyone deserves a healthy, safe and supportive environment. Children and youth should be part of the safety planning process. The plan should be fair, respectful and action-oriented.
Safe Places
Identify places you feel safe at the location you are being bullied (home, school, organization, community space)
Identify places where you feel unsafe at the location you are being bullied
Safe Strategies
Identify strategies you can use to stay safe at the location you are being bullied
(Take a stand, avoid certain situations, avoid certain people, build connections with others etc)
Safe people and support networks
Identify safe and trusted people at the location you are being bullied
Identify other supports and resources
Identify actions required in detail and the person responsible for those action
*Safety plan review in order to make sure plan is working or needs to be modify
*Safety Plans need to be fair, how people might feel, will it work and is it respectful to all parties involved.
In summary,
Safety Planning for those Engaging in Bullying
In some cases you might need to develop a safety plan to protect other children and youth:
Supervision of child/youth during free times
Designate play/hang-out areas
Behaviour management strategies
A plan for involving the child/youth in positive activities with peers
Review and update plan
*Safety plan review in order to make sure plan is working or needs to be modify
*Safety Plans need to be fair and respectful to all parties involved.
Include others if
613-260-2360 (24/7)
613-723-1623 │ crossroadschildren.ca
613-260-2360 │ ysb.on.ca
613-738-3915 │ youthnet.on.ca
613-789-2240 │ centrepsychosocial.ca
613-321-3211 │ www.pleo.on.ca
613-580-6744 │ parentinginottawa.ca │ etreparentaottawa.ca
* Parents can also contact their child’s school and/or school board to determine appropriate next steps:
Ottawa Carleton District School Board
How Parents Can Help
There is a very high risk of drug and alcohol abuse, depression, aggressive behaviour and suicide for bullied LGBTQ youth. Unconditional and instant support from a parent can give a teen struggling with his or her sexual identify the strength to deal with victimization and feelings of isolation.
Strategies For Parents To Help LGBTQ Youth Deal With Bullying
Prevnet, 2015
http://www.prevnet.ca/bullying/parents/parents-of-lgbtq-youth