A Parents’ Guide to Cyberbullying

No child should be bullied, so it’s important that as parents and caregivers, we can help kids to identify cyberbullying, and know what to do if it happens.

As parents, we instinctively want to protect our kids. Sadly though, life isn’t always sunshine and rainbows. So while it’s good to celebrate the parenting good times, it’s also wise to prepare for the little bumps in the road.

In today’s world, cyberbullying is a huge worry for parents. In fact, it’s in the top three concerns for parents of children aged 10 to 12*. But as with any challenge, the more you know about it, the better prepared you are to tackle it! So let’s dive in to understand what cyberbullying actually is, how to spot it, and the tools you can use to deal with it head-on.

Hey grown-ups! We know you’re super-duper busy, so check out our speedy summary below, or skip further down the page to read about cyberbullying in more detail.

• Cyberbullying is any repeated behavior aimed at upsetting someone else online.
• Talking about cyberbullying openly as a family allows kids to feel safe and supported enough to recognize and report cyberbullying if it happens.
• Our brilliant Build & Talk series is designed to help spark conversations about online safety in a fun and interactive way
• You can further support your kids by discussing the reasons behind cyberbullying, and the solutions, too. Encourage empathy and promote showing others kindness and respect.

What is cyberbullying?

Cyberbullying is reflective of real-life bullying and can span many different scenarios, such as name-calling, negative comments or being deliberately exclusive. Simply put though, it’s any repeated behavior that is aimed at upsetting someone online.

While kids are working out boundaries and testing limits, the lines between joking and upsetting someone can be delicate and nuanced – a difficult balance for them to understand. As grown-ups, we can empower our children to know what is and isn’t appropriate, and to make sure that those they interact with online feel safe and respected by them, and in turn, that they feel safe and respected by others.

Talking about cyberbullying

Having clear and open communication with your child from the get-go will make sure they’re better equipped to recognize cyberbullying, and more likely to tell you – or perhaps another trusted grown-up – about it. By bringing it into everyday conversation, it immediately becomes less scary, and seeking help from a grown-up in future becomes a lot easier.

A great starting point? The LEGO® Build & Talk series! These short, playful activities are designed to help families navigate tricky subjects about online safety in a fun and interactive way. It’s a gentle and collaborative way to think and talk about scary subjects, making them more approachable and ultimately more fun!

The star of the show (aside from your mini me!) is Ida Switchditonandoff. Pick from the ten- or twenty-minute activity version and allow this peppy LEGO character to take you on an adventure. Grab a few bricks or a pen and paper and take off on your chosen adventure together.

While kids are building or drawing, you'll find conversation prompts for grown-ups, outlining questions you might like to ask them. These include questions about certain characters’ behaviors, and why they think they might be acting in that way, as well as more linear ones like, “How can you be kind when playing with others?” By the end of the story, you should be well on your way to having easier, more open conversations around cyberbullying.

It’s also an opportunity to talk through moments where your kids – and possibly you yourself – feel they may have been less than kind to someone. This helps train empathy and understanding, by asking them to imagine being in someone else’s shoes. We all want to raise kind and compassionate kids, so encouraging conversations about feelings and inclusivity is a great place to start!

Four top tips for talking to kids about cyberbullying

Make it fun! Using roleplay is a useful way to tackle serious subjects in a fun way. It creates a lighthearted atmosphere and helps externalize the scenarios, meaning kids can project their feelings onto a character when they’re struggling to articulate something about themselves.

Illustrate both sides of the story: It’s important for little ones to understand why someone might be unkind to them – perhaps the person in question is feeling insecure or scared themselves. When we understand where someone’s actions are coming from, it’s easier to rationalize their behavior and look for ways to either avoid it or seek help without retaliating.

Look for solutions: It’s said that a problem shared is a problem halved. Routinely remind your kids that they can come to you with any issues, and when they do, engage in problem-solving together. If they’re able to tell you what’s happening, and how they’d like that to change, then you’ll be able to help engineer a plan. It could be asking for help from other trusted grown-ups or teachers, or explaining to the other child how their actions are making your child feel, or it could be taking a little break from using certain digital devices for a while. The main thing is ensuring kids feel heard and their wishes respected.

Promote kindness: Help your kids understand the importance of being kind to those they speak to online by encouraging them to give a compliment, celebrate someone else’s successes publicly, or even something as simple as sharing a supportive heart emoji.

So you see, you’re not alone in wanting to tackle cyberbullying. In fact, we think it’s good for kids to see that even grown-ups need help sometimes, so why not explain to your kids that you’ll work through the topic together? (With the help of Build & Talk, of course!)