Monitoring software alternative will reduce cyber-bullying in school children

 

Monitor children's web time

Cyber-bullying has become such a concern with parents that many are looking for ways to monitor their children’s activities while on-line.
I recommend limiting the amount of time your children are on the web, and stay nearby while they are surfing. Show interest in what they are doing and encourage them to ask questions if they are not sure about something. Keep their on-line experience positive.
Be supportive and upbeat about the internet. It has tremendous potential as a tool for learning as well as powerful social benefits.
If you still feel it is necessary to use software monitoring, here are some suggestions:
SpytechSpyagent.com
WebWatcher.com
SpectorPro.com  Learn about the above monitoring products before purchasing them. Read some reviews and understand that these tools have the potential to be misused. Use them with care and realize the best parental monitoring is simply being there.

www.StandUpForRespect.com
Bruce Langford is an anti-bullying advocate who presents talks and presentations on bullying and cyber-bullying

Blenheim Neighbourhood Watch Hosts Anti-Bullying Speaker, Bruce Langford

Bullying will decrease when everyone starts to care. That is the belief of the Blenheim Neighbourhood Watch Group which started looking for a guest speaker on the topic last spring. Kim Dagenais is the president of the group and was instrumental in locating a speaker with experience and knowledge in the field of bullying prevention. Bruce has been presenting workshops in Ontario for a number of years.

The information covered in the Neighbourhood Watch workshop was cyberbullying, family dynamics, facebook and how to cope with tough bullying situations.

Here is a tip that Bruce shared during the talk in Blenheim:

Sit with your children and discuss the ground rules for internet use in your home. Talk with your family about expectations on the web and regarding the use of cell phones.

This tip can make a big difference later, if a complicated challenge arises involving cyberbullying.
Visit Blenheim Neighbourhood Watch on Facebook!

Bruce Langford does talks and presentations across Ontario on the topic of bullying and cyberbullying. He can be contacted at 1-800-901-8831 or through ‘Stand Up Now Productions’.

6 Ways to Keep From Crashing Due to a Pre-Teen Dilemma

1. Assess the situation rationally by writing down the details in a factual way
2. Talk over the dilemma with a trusted adult. This could be a parent, teacher, councillor, friend or other relative. Call a confidential counseling service like ‘KidsHelpPhone’ if you don’t have anyone else to talk to.
3. Continue to eat regular, nutritious meals and snacks. Stress can cause many people to lean to junk food or foods and drinks containing ‘uppers’ like caffeine. So called ‘energy’ drinks can also throw your body out of equilibrium.
4. If you have pets, they can help lower your stress level. Walk your dog, play with your cat, watch your fish or ride your pony. Spend extra time caring for your pets and you may start to feel more relaxed.
5. Make sure you maintain your sleep schedule so you don’t get over tired. That can add more stress to a situation that is already difficult.
6. Keep up your regular schedule of physical activities. Consider adding more activities if you are not a very active person. Even a simple walk can help you feel better.

We offer ideas to help kids deal with bullying situations and other challenges. Visit our website at http://www.standupnow.ca

What Does Barbara Coloroso Say About Bullying?

Barbara Coloroso is an internationally recognized speaker and author who talks about parenting and bullying. I recommend her books and agree with many of her ideas about how to deal with bullying.
She believes there are a number of ways to stop bullying.
After reading her books, I was left with some ideas which made me feel very positive and hopeful about what we can all do to help eliminate bullying.
It is important to encourage empathy and friendship skills in children and to closely monitor screen activities. She says that adults should help create opportunities for children to do good and help others. Discipline including restitution, resolution and reconciliation should be considered when dealing with bullying behaviours.
I encourage you to google Barbara Coloroso and read her materials. Barbara has extensive experience and expertise on the topic of bullying. Check out the writings of Barbara Coloroso!
I totally believe we can all make a positive difference by working together and making the right choices.

Programs to reduce bullying at www.standupagainstbullying.com

How Do I Teach My Kids Consideration?

How do my actions affect others?
How do I learn to think before I speak?
How do I make the right choices?

These are questions that your children may be asking themselves more often than you think.
The answer is to remember to show consideration to others. Try to practice empathy. Try to imagine what the other person is feeling. Just remember that these are skills we can practice every day. We all teach children to build character by our own example.

We have taught these character ed concepts through music, videos and role-plays at hundreds of elementary school presentations across Ontario. We will present bullying prevention programs at your school. Contact Stand Up Now Productions at 1-800-901-8831 or email Bruce Langford at bruce@standupnow.ca

5 Best Bus Bullying Tips from the Bullying Guy

Bus in Benny DL's hand

Bullying on the bus can be a real problem. Here are 5 tips to deal with bullying on the bus:
1. Tell somebody you can trust – it might be the bus driver, a teacher, a parent or even a friend on the bus.
2. Find a friend to sit with if you can. Look out for each other. It’s even better if you can get more than one friend on your side.
3. Stay away from the bully if you can. Sit as far away from them as possible.
4. Some bullies are just trying to get attention and feed their ego. Sometimes these people will stop if you just ignore them.
5. Try to be as confident as you can – don’t let the person know they are bugging you. Sometimes just speaking up and talking it out can be the best way to deal with this kind of thing.

We will come to your school to share stuff about bullying & respect in a fun way. Check out www.standupagainstbullying.com and remember: ‘Stand Up Against Bullying’ on the bus!

Cooperation Could Have Saved Phoebe Prince

The bullying tip for the day is about Cooperation.  Try to use cooperation! It is very important to know that cooperation will help reduce bullying.  
Try to cooperate with others.
Try to use words which will encourage people to cooperate.
Try to get along with others so they will want to cooperate with you.

I think you will find that once people see you trying to cooperate, they will try too. When more people start trying to get along, then bullying will start to disappear.

I believe that with more cooperation from those who knew her, Phoebe Prince could have been saved some of the pain she went through.

I believe that together, we can help eliminate bullying!

We talked about cooperation at Churchill Meadows Public School in Mississauga (Peel District School Board). Click on the video to learn more about bullying presentations and bullying prevention in Mississauga and Toronto area Schools.

To book Benny DL for school programs or for a keynote talk, e-mail Stand Up Now Productions info@standupnow.ca or call 1-800-901-8831 Visit our website at www.standupnow.ca

Parent Reaching Out (PRO) Grant to get Bullying Speaker Bruce Langford

Paul Clark, Parent Council Rep at Sts. Peter and Paul School

I (Bruce Langford) have just presented an hour-long keynote talk including videos, songs and student role-plays at Sts. Peter and Paul Catholic School in Mississauga. The topic was bullying, cyber-bullying and parenting. Parent Council member Paul Clark commented that “Bruce Langford’s parent program was really good. It was interactive, it had music and a lot of parents found it very helpful.”
We received many positive comments about the role-plays, the songs and the tips and ideas about bullying and parenting. The program is called ‘Stand Up – Keep Your Kids’. When we visit a school during the day, we encourage children to bring their parents back in the evening for some different videos, songs and role-plays. This really helps to get lots of people out in the evening.

One of the messages in tonight’s talk was about being a good listener. As adults we need to remember to listen to our children, and as children, we need to be good listeners to our friends, our teachers and parents.

To book Bruce Langford as a guest speaker at your school, call Stand Up Now at 1-800-901-8831 or e-mail bruce@standupnow.ca

Bullying Guy (Benny DL) Sings ‘Makin A Friend’

Benny DL (Bruce Langford) sings Makin' A Friend

Hi again,
Here’s a bullying tip for you… Make friends. Just remember that your friends can help you, especially if you are being bullied. And remember to help your friends if they are having a rough time.
I wrote this song because it is SO important to make friends. Here are the words:

Here’s some advice about makin’ a friend,
This is what other kids recommend,
Find a person with interests like you.
Be yourself and always be true.
Like I said be honest and be sincere,
Integrity is good any time of the year,
Try to tell the truth at home and at school,
You’ll earn respect, respect is cool!
(I’ll share the rest of the song another time)

Just remember, stand up against bullying. Book Bruce Langford as a speaker about bullying for your event www.bruce-langford.com or contact him at 1-800-901-8831 or bruce@standupnow.ca

Bullying Tips on a Multi-Cultural Theme

Bruce Langford at Williamsburg School in Kitchener Ontario

Encourage your child to be open to all cultures and ethnicity. If we, as adults model this behaviour, our children will come by it honestly. Read stories set in many different locations around the world. Make a point of learning about cultures you are not familiar with. Take part in cultural festivals with your family whenever possible. The examples you set will serve your children for a lifetime.
Williamsburg Public School in Kitchener Ontario sets these examples using Tribes teaching as a tool for teachers and children. I (Bruce Langford) visited Williamsburg School yesterday to present our ‘Stand Up Against Bullying’ and ‘Stand Up – Keep Your Kids’ programs. We welcomed over 200 people in the evening talk about bullying and cyber-bullying tips. Principal Fran Oppertshauser encouraged us by agreeing to be a reference for our school assemblies. 

Arrange for excellent anti-bullying school assemblies by Stand Up Now Productions with presenter Bruce Langford. Phone Stand Up Now at 1-800-901-8831 or e-mail at bruce@standupnow.ca  Website: www.standupnow.ca

Bullying Tip From The Stand Up Against Bullying Guy

Sometimes parents can have a tough time finding out what really happened in a child bullying situation. Take a few minutes to have your child act out what happened. Ask about the details and say to your child; ”I’m going to pretend I’m you and you pretend you are the one doing the mean thing.” You can also have another child play the part of one of the participants. 
Another method is to act out what happened with action figures or dolls. You may be surprised how much information you can piece together by having your child do some acting!

For government approved school anti-bullying programs, contact Bruce Langford at 1-800-901-8831 or e-mail Stand Up Now Productions at bruce@standupnow.ca

How Many Children Report Bullying?

Bullying is a real problem in our society and studies have been done to prove this fact. One study (Wendy Craig & Y. Harel, 2004) revealed that about 12% of girls and 18% of boys reported bullying others at least twice in previous months, while 15% of girls and 18% of boys reported being victimized at least twice over the same period. As parents, teachers and members of society in general, we can help improve these numbers by being good listeners whenever children need to share a concern. This is a starting point to help our children deal with these issues.
For more information visit www.standupagainstbullying.com or call Bruce Langford to book anti-bullying programs and assemblies for your Ontario school at 1-800-901-8831 Stand Up Now Bullying Prevention

Don’t Keep It Inside, Tell Someone You Trust!

Why do so many of us clam up when someone says or does something mean to us? That’s how bullying can start. I can tell you, there have been times in the past when I lacked confidence. I would question myself. Did I say something wrong? Did I give a mean impression? Honestly, we all lack confidence at certain times. We all have to build ourselves up sometimes.

One of the best ways to deal with this is by deciding not to keep these thoughts inside. Talk about it with someone you trust. Write down your ideas in a journal. Share with someone you are sure you can depend on, but other than that, keep it private.

This can really help to deal with bullying situations in your own life.  

http://www.standupagainstbullying.com/

Stand Up Against Bullying!

Do people ever feel guilty for their bullying behaviours? Indeed, there are many who have written years later about their desire to make it up to the people they have bullied.
One man wrote a letter of apology fifty-four years later to the person he bullied back in grade school.
Bullying is not new. Bullying is not acceptable. Bullying is real.
Steer clear of bullying. Strive to become the kind of person who respects others and refuses to be part of bullying behaviours.
Stand Up Against Bullying! (www.standupagainstbullying.com)

Surf in a Central Place

We have been presenting our ‘Cyberbullying – Got 2 Go’ programs today at a JK-5 School. The students were totally excited and picked up key concepts as well. The songs, videos and role-plays really grabbed their attention.
One of our messages is to remind children that when surfing the internet, their computer needs to be ’in a central place, like a kitchen or family room where everyone goes’. Being on-line should not be a secretive activity for children, and adults should not model this secretive behaviour to children either. 

For more about bullying prevention programs for children, see our website at www.standupnow.ca

Earthquake in Chile Causes Hardship for Children

A massive 8.8 magnitude earthquake struck near Chile’s second-largest city , Concepcion on Feb 27, 2010, and has caused extensive damage. The capital Santiago, about 200 miles north of the epicenter was also badly hit.

“Any disaster increases the vulnerability of children. And we know from experience that an earthquake of this enormity – with widespread destruction of homes, schools, infrastructure and piece of mind – will put thousands of children at risk.”
Charles MacCormack of ‘Save The Children’

 At ‘Stand Up Now’ we donate monthly to Save The Children because we believe in their efforts and we also want to help children of the world. Please keep the children of Chile in your prayers and help with a donation if possible. (www.savethechildren.org)
We are www.standupnow.ca

Joannie Rochette Shows Incredible Strength

Joannie Rochette displayed amazing focus as she courageously moved forward determined to win a medal in spite of her mother’s recent fatal heart attack after arriving in Vancouver.
She continued on to earn a bronze medal and attributed her success to her mother, Therese, who wanted a better life for her daughter than she herself had.
When dealing with bullied children, we can learn from the strength and focus shown by Joannie Rochette.

Inquire about Stand Up Now presentations for your child’s school, or the school of your neice, grandson or cousin. It will increase the emphasis of having a safe school and will give the children concepts to hold on to. Our programs educate and entertain with memorable content.
Visit us at www.standupagainstbullying.com

Confidence is Your Key to Success

Keep your chin up! Are you feeling discouraged or defeated? Think of all the times a winning athlete may need a boost. Keeping your confidence is one of the key skills a winning person must conquer. Be your own cheerleader! Don’t let those thoughts of discouragement grab hold. Be strong, be confident, be a winner!

Go Beyond the Limits to Solve Bullying

“The only way of finding the limits of the possible is by going beyond them into the impossible.”
Arthur C. Clarke

Sir Arthur Clarke was a well known author and inventor. He is most famous for the novel 2001: A Space Odyssey which he wrote with Stanley Kubric.
In 1945 he published his idea that satellites would be an effective method of communication. His idea to communicate using satellites has now become reality. Sir Arthur Clarke was definitely a forward thinker and left our world a better place.

Don’t be afraid to think outside the box to solve bullying problems. Visit our website at www.brucelangford.ca

Superbowl Star Tracy Porter’s Winning Attitude Helps Win the 2010 Superbowl

Tracy Porter intercepted Peyton Manning with only minutes left in the game and returned the pick 74 yards for a touchdown. That sealed the New Orleans’ Saints first Super Bowl victory on February 7, 2010!

Cornerback Tracy Porter’s winning attitude and absolute focus can be an inspiration to those of us teaching others how to reduce bullying and increase respect.

Have a look at our website at www.atfm.ca for more winning ideas.