Cyberbullying: Prevention & Intervention
As we’ve pointed out, cyberbullying is a relatively new issue that schools, parents and children are being forced to deal with on a day-to-day basis. Because of its newness, ways to approach preventing and intervening cyberbullying are a bit of a blur. Many researchers believe that there is not one clear solution that will take care of the problem in its entirety and instead, believe that a combination of multiple strategies for traditional bullying could be applied in ways to this issue.
In the article, The role of school psychologists in the assessment, prevention, and intervention of cyberbullying written by Terry Diamanduros, Elizabeth Downs and Stephen J. Jenkins lists specific criteria that school psychologists and other members of the school community should know for positive changes in prevention and intervention techniques. For prevention Diamanduros et al. in 2008 suggest committee members should be knowledgeable about cyberbullying and how it can be more aggressive than traditional bullying, the role of technology in childrens’ lives, and know that some individuals may not report cyberbullying. They also suggest that when intervening, school psychologists and teachers alike should stress saving the evidence, conduct threat assessment tests to see how sever the issue is, provide guidance and support the victim among other suggestions. Overall many articles mirrored the same suggestions to approaching cyberbullying and insist on schools and parents alike to get involved in making a solution possible for the children being affected by it.
Snakenborg et al. 2011 discuss the possible use of comprehensive programs in schools to help prevent and intervene current cyberbullying issues. Two specifically seem like leading ways to get children involved yet still entertained. The first is called “Let’s Fight It Together: What We All Can Do to Prevent Cyberbullying”. This program is a curriculum that can be taught in schools that involves watching videos and utilizing study guides and lessons to help educate children about cyberbullying in general. Another program that they discuss is watching the video Sticks and Stones: Cyberbullying and following up with a class discussion on how cyberbullying can affect a person and allows brainstorming for solutions to be talked about.
Another helpful website that parents can use to help navigate preventing and intervening cyberbullying is The Untited States Computer Emergency Readiness Team's tip guide. This guide provides more information about cyberbullying for those who are interested and gives a list of tips for parents to follow.
The consensus on the matter of preventing and intervening cyberbulling seems to be educating children both at home and at school. By promoting discussion and providing a safe and supportive atmosphere stopping cyberbullying will hopefully be accomplished.
In the article, The role of school psychologists in the assessment, prevention, and intervention of cyberbullying written by Terry Diamanduros, Elizabeth Downs and Stephen J. Jenkins lists specific criteria that school psychologists and other members of the school community should know for positive changes in prevention and intervention techniques. For prevention Diamanduros et al. in 2008 suggest committee members should be knowledgeable about cyberbullying and how it can be more aggressive than traditional bullying, the role of technology in childrens’ lives, and know that some individuals may not report cyberbullying. They also suggest that when intervening, school psychologists and teachers alike should stress saving the evidence, conduct threat assessment tests to see how sever the issue is, provide guidance and support the victim among other suggestions. Overall many articles mirrored the same suggestions to approaching cyberbullying and insist on schools and parents alike to get involved in making a solution possible for the children being affected by it.
Snakenborg et al. 2011 discuss the possible use of comprehensive programs in schools to help prevent and intervene current cyberbullying issues. Two specifically seem like leading ways to get children involved yet still entertained. The first is called “Let’s Fight It Together: What We All Can Do to Prevent Cyberbullying”. This program is a curriculum that can be taught in schools that involves watching videos and utilizing study guides and lessons to help educate children about cyberbullying in general. Another program that they discuss is watching the video Sticks and Stones: Cyberbullying and following up with a class discussion on how cyberbullying can affect a person and allows brainstorming for solutions to be talked about.
Another helpful website that parents can use to help navigate preventing and intervening cyberbullying is The Untited States Computer Emergency Readiness Team's tip guide. This guide provides more information about cyberbullying for those who are interested and gives a list of tips for parents to follow.
The consensus on the matter of preventing and intervening cyberbulling seems to be educating children both at home and at school. By promoting discussion and providing a safe and supportive atmosphere stopping cyberbullying will hopefully be accomplished.