Cyberbullying is a term you come across very often in your daily lives. It is often termed as cyber-harassment or cyberstalking. Cyberbullying, however, occurs mostly among kids – teens, and pre-teens. It happens when someone sends, posts or shares harmful, insulting or negative content about another person. Cyberbullying usually occurs in Instant messaging apps, SMS (Short Message Service), social platforms like Facebook, Twitter, or Snapchat . The Cyberbullying Research Center provides data that shows the number of people who faced it at some point in their lives was 18% in 2007 and 34% in 2017 – almost double. Another survey claims that 15% High school students and 24% Middle school students are victims of cyberbullying. In this age of digital media, kids cannot stay away from technology. But parent’s must acquaint themselves with the cyber world and warn their children. Recommended Read:  How to Help Your Child Deal with Bullying How can it affect kids? Cyberbullying has a strong effect on children since the victim knows that the social media platforms are open to the entire world. • Staying away from family and spending most of their time with their phones or laptops. • Suffering from low self-esteem. • A drastic change in personality like anger, depression etc.

A majority of kids today spend a considerable amount of time on social media. While you can keep discussing the pros and cons of these platforms, it cannot be avoided. When your child starts using online sites, monitor his/her social media presence, as this will help safeguard your child both physically and mentally. What encompasses social media? Social media includes all public communication platforms where you can share information and reach out to millions at a time. A few common platforms our kids are addicted to include Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Myspace. A recent survey mentions that kids and teens spend an average of one hour and eleven minutes on varied social media platforms every day. Did you know that about 75% of teens in America have their own cell phones, and hence it is difficult for you to keep track of what they do every minute? However, there are a few ways you can keep track of what your child sees and shares on such public platforms. Recommended Read: Social Media Rules for Your Children Prevent underage logging in Most social media platforms have a minimum age limit for signing up. However, most kids lie about their date of birth here.

The winter season requires extra care to keep health issues away. When you are a parent, you must take care of your kids in terms of their clothing, food, and safety. Here are some winter tips to keep your kids safe during the cold weather. Clothing Tips Your kids should be covered from head to toe in comfortable warm clothing especially when they go outdoors such as thick socks, mittens, scarves, and hats. Your kid would require mittens and a hat inside your house, depending on the weather in your area. For extreme weather conditions, ensure that your kids also use a thermal underwear and sock liners over their sweaters, jackets or coats when they go out of home. When your kid is playing outside with snow, ensure they wear waterproof jackets and sturdy boots. Recommended Read:  Winter Essentials for Your Grade Schooler Skin Safety Tips Sunscreens are extremely important for the winter season. It helps to keep the skin protected from sunburns during the cold months. Make sure to use creams and moisturizers especially-formulated for cold weathers. For kids, you can restrict their bath time; to 2-3 times a week and ensure you apply moisturizer to your child’s skin after a sponge bath with warm water.

“Cyberbullying” – a term that has emerged with the advent of technology is something parents today cannot relate to. However, it can be as damaging as any other kind of bullying and happens to be one of the most common online dangers. It is therefore highly critical for parents to identify whether their kids are being cyberbullied. Recommended Read:  Helping Kids Navigate a Virtual World Where Cyberbullying Is Common Here are 7 signs that can warn you that your child is being bullied online Secretive about their online activities If your child is being secretive about their online activities lately or is being protective of their device then parents must be concerned. Find out if your child is getting upset or nervous when they receive an email or text message. Your child might also be extremely reluctant about parting with their device. However, remember children would never be comfortable sharing information about their online activities with parents . Just compare if their behavior has undergone major changes suddenly. This might be one of the signs of cyberbullying. Having trouble sleeping at night Your child might not sleep due to the level of anxiety to check social media. But taking away their devices forcefully is not the solution here, as it might leave them distressed.

Acne is a common problem many kids suffer during their teen years. Here are some acne treatments teenagers should follow: A Healthy Skincare Regime Basic skin hygiene is an important factor for an acne free skin. Teenagers must wash their face every morning and before bed with an antibacterial mild cleanser. It is also important to get rid of sweat, dirt, and dust after any sport or physical activity. Teens can also get blackheads and they must use an antimicrobial soap or a mild scrub once a week to remove dead cells and impurities. Teenagers must refrain from scratching their acne or rubbing their skin with bare hands. Bacteria can spread and cause acne breakouts. Recommended Read:  How to Deal With Skin Changes in Every Weather Letting the Skin Breathe Overuse of cosmetics and makeup products can clog pores and cause acne. Teenagers must use an oil-free formula cream and minimal makeup products occasionally. Physical activities help your teen’s skin breathe but ensure they take a shower after their workout and make sure your child wears clean garments. Eating a Good Diet Diet plays a major role in keeping skin healthy and acne free. Teenagers must eat lots of whole grains, vegetables, and fruits and avoid junk food.