As the days of the calendar draw closer to the first day of school, we began to check off the list of things to do before school starts: buy clothes, shoes, and school supplies, attend open houses, get class schedules, sign up for activities, and make sure that your child has everything needed to be successful in this new school year. We, here at The Safe Place, would like to help you with another list that you may not have considered: Conversations to have with your Kids before school starts. Here are some topics that you can cover on your Back to School Checklist:
- Talk to your child about bullying.
This is huge! There are three areas to cover:
* What to do if your child is being bullied.
* What to do if another child is being bullied.
* Make sure that your child is not bullying another child.
If your child,or another child that they know about, is being bullied, make sure that your child knows to go to a safe adult to talk about the situation. Make sure that they understand that joining in to bully another child is not OK. And especially make sure that they understand that instigating bullying is NEVER acceptable under any circumstances. Check out this article about bullying: Bullying
- If your child is age ten or older, talk to them about dating violence.
Statistics show us that dating violence is starting as young as eleven or twelve now. You want them to understand that is it never OK for their boyfriend/girlfriend to harm them physically in any way. It is never OK for them to pressure them to do thing sexually that they are not comfortable with. It is never OK for them to demand that they dress a certain way, or wear their hair a certain way, or give them their money. It is never OK for them to tell them who they can and cannot be friends with. Talk about what a healthy relationship looks like and that it includes respect and honesty. If your child becomes a victim of dating violence, contact The Safe Place and we can help you navigate this situation.
This article talks about healthy relationships:Healthy Relationships
These articles go into greater depth about teen dating violence:
Breaking up with an Abusive Partner
- Talk about online/phone safety.
Make sure that you know what your child is doing on their devices and computers. Warn them about the dangers that are out there online. Make sure that they understand the long-term consequences for pictures and posts – they never go away!
Here is some more information about Risky Online Behavior: Risky Online Behavior
- Talk to your child about suicide.
No parents wants to ever think about the possibility of their child committing suicide. But it is important that you keep an open line of communication with your child. Make sure that they know that they can talk to you about anything – and then be available to do that. If you notice they are struggling seek help from your doctor or school counselor. They can offer resources to help your child deal with overwhelming feelings.
For more information read this:
- Talk to your child about school violence.
Chances are good that they are already thinking about it. Headlines about school shootings are terrifying to children. They need reassurance that they will be OK. Talk to administration and see what their emergency plan is. If you think that your child may need more help dealing with fears and anxiety over possible violence, seek help from your doctor or counselor. Also – if they see a student that is struggling and exhibits warning signs that they may be violent – tell your child to talk to a trusted adult immediately.
For help with any of the issues listed above call The Safe Place at 1-888-554-2501 and ask for an advocate to help you. We can provide information to help you navigate these difficult topics. If you need help in Perry County call 501-889-2030.
Leave a Reply