Penn State Ag Sciences Newsline -- February 5, 2008

Look to play a role if your child is being bullied at school (:45)

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Suggested Intro:

BULLYING IS A COMMON PROBLEM THAT POPS UP IN MANY CHILDREN'S LIVES, AND A PENN STATE EXTENSION SPECIALIST SAYS PARENTS MUST STRIKE A DELICATE BALANCE BETWEEN HELPING THEIR CHILDREN AND LETTING THEM SOLVE IT THEMSELVES. GARY ABDULLAH HAS THE STORY:

Story:

(:12) A CHILD BEING BULLIED MAY INSIST THAT PARENTS NOT TAKE ANY ACTION. PENN STATE EXTENSION FAMILY SPECIALIST DANIEL PERKINS SAYS YOU SHOULD GIVE YOUR CHILD SPACE TO RESOLVE IT THEMSELVES, BUT IT'S IMPORTANT TO STAY INVOLVED IN THE PROCESS:

Perkins Actuality:
(:18) "YOU CAN CERTAINLY SAY TO THEM, 'WELL, WHAT DO YOU THINK SOME OF OUR OPTIONS ARE?'-- DEPENDING ON THE CHILD'S AGE. BUT I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT YOU TAKE SOME ACTION, BECAUSE TAKING NO ACTION IN AND OF ITSELF IS CONDONING THE BULLYING, AND IT SENDS A MESSAGE TO YOUR CHILD THAT THE BEHAVIOR IS OKAY. AND SO, I THINK IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT THAT YOU DO SOMETHING."

(:17) PERKINS SAYS TO COUNTERACT THE NEGATIVE EFFECTS OF BULLYING, YOU CAN HELP YOUR CHILD SET UP PLAY DATES AND OTHER OPPORTUNITIES TO HAVE POSITIVE INTERACTIONS. FOR MORE INFORMATION, VISIT PERKINS' WEB SITE AT RESILIENCY DOT C-A-S DOT P-S-U DOT E-D-U. FROM PENN STATE, I'M GARY ABDULLAH.

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Learn more:

Family and Youth Resiliency: "Dealing with Bullies" Web site

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