Fredericksburg Parent

www.FredericksburgParent.NET 35 Kids who are cyberbullied often quickly turn off their computers or phones when a parent enters their space, hide, clear or rapidly switch screens or outright refuse to use their devices unless the par- ent leaves. They also tend to be unwilling to part with their devices, or share them with their parents, fearing that their parents might find out what's going on. This is especially true in the evening when friends and cyberbullies are most likely to be online. When they are online, kids who are cyberbullied tend to be visibly agitated or jumpy, especially when they receive an IM, text or email from a bully. Their minds are racing with thoughts and emotions as they're trying to figure out how best to handle the situation without revealing anything to others. They're also likely to keep checking their computers and phones while going back and forth between different screens in short spurs, say they're doing homework when they're really doing something else entirely and may abruptly shut off or walk away from their devices mid-use for no outwardly apparent reason. Not surprisingly, kids who are cyberbullied often appear angry or frustrated after they have been online. Some may suddenly and unexpectedly stop going online at all. Others may go online more than usual, unable to resist the temptation to check whether any new comments have been posted about them. Another possible indication that your kids are the victims of cyberbullying is that they try to cover their "online tracks" such as by erasing their user his- tory folders every time they turn off their devices. You know your kids better than anyone else. Look for multiple signs that seem to go together; they could be an indication that they are the victims of cyberbullying. "The key," as Dr. Borba says, "is to look for a pattern in your child. You shouldn't overlook a sudden change that's not your child's 'normal' behavior."

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