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Bullying Resources for Parents

Parents can become involved in reducing aggressive behaviors and creating safer environments for their children at home and school. Parents are encouraged to become familiar with their school handbooks, bullying, discipline, and technology policies to gain knowledge of their school’s response to bullying behavior.

Parent-School Collaboration

To effectively prevent bullying, a strong partnership between parents and schools is crucial. This partnership should be built on a solid foundation of shared understanding, school policies, and proven intervention strategies.

  • If you are worried about bullying incidents at school, it is recommended that you communicate your concerns with the classroom teacher, school counselor, or building administrator. They can help you find a resolution to the issue.
  • Providing a detailed and lucid account of the observed or experienced behavior is advisable when reporting such incidents. This is particularly important if the targeted student has a disability or is protected.
  • Collaborating with the school and involving the student in creating a plan is imperative to address such incidents.
  • Bullying behavior can manifest itself across various media platforms, including social media, gaming channels, and other forms of communication. Parents should be aware of their children’s activities and monitor them to prevent untoward incidents.
  • It is essential to identify changes in behavior and initiate conversations with the child to provide adequate support.
  • Victims of cyberbullying often suffer in silence and do not inform adults. Therefore, it is incumbent upon the parents to take precautions and monitor their children’s actions online.
  • Parents must also take appropriate measures if their child is found to be perpetrating bullying behavior. Working with the school to identify the underlying reasons, develop an appropriate plan to address the behavior, and teach alternative behaviors is essential.
  • If the student has a disability, it is necessary to determine if such behavior results from it and collaborate with the special education administrators to develop an appropriate plan.

Reporting Procedures

Refer to the school district’s bullying policy and reporting procedures for guidance on the local process to make a report. If that is not available, typically, the following procedure is appropriate. Generally, reporting bullying behaviors to the school begins with the classroom teacher or building administrator and proceeds to the following contact only if the issue is unresolved.

  1. Report to the classroom teacher, school counselor, and building administrator (principal)
  2. Report to the district superintendent
  3. Report to the district school board
  4. Contact the Nebraska Department of Education School Safety for complaints (402-471-0986)

If the bullying behavior involves criminal conduct (theft, assault, battery, threats, etc.), use the following reporting procedure in addition to notifying the school.

  1. Report to local law enforcement
  2. Contact the county attorney.

How to report cyberbullying or inappropriate content to specific websites/apps:

Additional information and resources for parents:

Nebraska Mental Health:

Updated January 17, 2024 1:42pm