HaltonParents

Bullying and Special Needs Children

Posted on March 8, 2011 by Halton Guest Blogger

(This is our 5th post in our series about bullying.)

A couple of weeks ago, we received an email at HaltonParents from a mother of a child with Aspergers. Her son is now in grade nine, and she told us how all throughout his childhood he has been bullied or made fun of. Unfortunately, this year it has even gotten worse. Of course, she is frustrated and very concerned about how children with special needs have to work so hard just to fit in, and that many in the community don’t always understand how to help. Continue reading →

How to Cope: A Personal Story about Bullying

Posted on February 28, 2011 by Halton Guest Blogger

(This is our 4th post in our blog series on bullying.)

The following post is written by a 17 year-old student from one of the local high schools in Halton Region. The Halton Parents team is honoured to share this post with our readers and we are grateful to this student for telling us about her direct experiences with bullying. We have chosen to protect her identity to limit her exposure online, but hope that you will find value in her personal story, told in her own words, with thoughts on how parents can make a difference.

When I was a child I was bullied very badly during every year of Elementary School. I used to dread going to school in the morning and sometimes, I would even cry when I was woken up for school. Continue reading →

Posted in Children & Tweens, Emotional Well-Being & Mental Health for Your Child/Tween, Emotional Well-Being & Mental Health for Your Teen, Keeping Your Child/Tween Safe, Keeping Your Teen Safe, Parenting, Parenting Your Child/Tween, Parenting Your Teen, Teens | Tagged bullied, bully, Bullying, depression, Mental Health, overcome, personal story, school, school health, special needs, student, teens, victim, what it's like, what to do | 3 Comments

Bullying and the Brain

Posted on February 22, 2011 by Halton Guest Blogger

Believe it or not, Canada is falling seriously behind other countries in supporting children and youth with healthy relationships. Research points to the fact that many problems children experience with bullying have to do with troubled relationships. I think we need to stop and think about what our children really need to learn, both in and out of school. Bullying and cyberbullying are growing problems in our community and are having a profound impact on our kids. Have a look at this article on the importance of teaching our children “relationship literacy” and how this can help to prevent bullying. Continue reading →

Posted in Children & Tweens, Emotional Well-Being & Mental Health for Your Child/Tween, Emotional Well-Being & Mental Health for Your Teen, Keeping Your Child/Tween Safe, Keeping Your Teen Safe, Parenting, Parenting Your Child/Tween, Parenting Your Teen, Teens | Tagged brain, brain development, bully, Bullying, child development, cyberbullying, Dr. Jean Clinton, effects of bullying, Mental Health, relationships, school, social skills, special needs, teens, tweens, victim | 2 Comments

I Remember What it was Like to be Bullied

Posted on February 14, 2011 by Erika Norris

“Ewwww! Your shoes smell like fish!”

First off all, I can assure you that my shoes DID NOT smell like fish. Even if they did, how would this girl know? She never once got close enough to even know what my shoes smelled like! She completely terrified me and I avoided her at all costs. I would take the long way home, just to avoid having to walk past her house. Continue reading →

Posted in Children & Tweens, Emotional Well-Being & Mental Health for Your Child/Tween, Emotional Well-Being & Mental Health for Your Teen, Keeping Your Child/Tween Safe, Keeping Your Teen Safe, Parenting, Parenting Your Child/Tween, Parenting Your Teen, Teens | Tagged bully, Bullying, bystander, Halton, Mental Health, parents, school health, teens, tweens, what to do | 2 Comments

The Age of Cyberbullying

Posted on February 7, 2011 by Monique Leparskas

(This post is the first in our 5-part series about bullying.)

I just spent a day recently at one of my schools talking with students about bullying. These teens have heard anti-bullying messages since grade school, but they say that bullying is still common. Not surprisingly, they said cyberbullying has become the most widespread form of bullying.

As I remember, it was hard enough dealing with the regular stresses of being a teenager and the possibility of school-yard bullying. I can’t imagine agonizing even more over what people could be saying about me online, or what they could be texting to each other behind my back. Continue reading →