Most kids in Yakima are now or will soon start school in a remote learning model. In a new study out of New York University.  Laura Grunin, a doctoral student at NYU says  "With remote learning replacing classroom instruction for many young people, and cell phones and social media standing in for face-to-face interaction with friends, there are more opportunities for cyber bullying ... insults, threats, or spreading rumors....to occur," 

More than half of U.S. teens report having experience with cyberbullying, or online behavior so the question is, "what can parents do to help?"

Well, the study addresses that too.  For starters, how about a little more PDA ? (Public Displays of Affection)

Researchers found that the more teens perceive their parents as loving, the less likely they were to engage in cyberbullying behaviors. But it's much more than that!

Love and the numbers don't lie. When asked if their parents were loving, those that said “almost never” were over six times more likely to engage in high levels of cyberbullying than those who answered that their parent is “almost always” loving.

It also helps reduce cyberbullying when the parents spread a little of that love around with their kids by way of other types of emotional support, including how teens feel their parents help and understand them. And remember the idea of "feeling supported" is in the eye of the comforted so as study authors say, "Parents should strive to discern their teen’s perception of parental emotional support as it might be associated with youth cyberbullying behavior.” 

Other factors affecting home dynamics include covid-19 caused higher unemployment rates and more parents working from home.

 

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