How do I know if My Child is being Cyberbullied?

Even if you have a good feel for your kids’ emotional state, social skills, and peer relations – key factors in how well their online (as well as offline) experiences go – it’s a good idea to ask whether cyberbullying’s going on with them or any of their friends. You may not get a clear answer right away, but engage your kids in occasional conversations about how things are going online as well as offline. See what they know about cyber bullying, ask if they know others who have experienced it, if it’s a problem at their school and what they would do if they were cyber bullied or knew about others who were. If they seem obsessed about checking text messages and social apps, it could be because they’re worried about what’s being said about them. It may not be bullying, but it may be a sign your child needs a little extra support. The federal government’s StopBullying.gov website suggests that parents be on the lookout for signs such as difficulty sleeping, frequent nightmares, declining grades, not wanting to go to school, feelings of helplessness or decreased self-esteem and many more to mention.