Ben Shifrin, Head of Jemicy School, Offers Tips on What to do if Your Child is Bullied

BALTIMORE, May 26 /PRNewswire/ -- With the increase in the use of social media and many recent reports of extreme cases of bullying in the news, Ben Shifrin, head of the Jemicy School in Owings Mills, MD wants to inform parents about how they can best help their children if they are bullied. Shifrin emphasizes that parents need to understand the serious threat bullying poses and that parents need to be advocates for their children.

Shifrin also stresses that parents must recognize that with our children's constant access to technology, cyber bullying has become a serious problem. It is the fastest growing form of bullying, with middle school aged girls being the most vulnerable. Parents must be aware that this form of bullying happens not just on the computer, but also on the phone via text messaging. Cyber bullying is particularly damaging to a child, since the bullying can occur 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, which means the child does not have a safe haven.

Shifrin suggests parents follow these tips to help their child if he is a victim of bullying:

• Bullying is a serious issue and must be treated as such.
• Maintain open communication with your children. Talk with your child at the dinner table, and encourage your child to tell you if something seems like it is bothering him or her.
• Take their complaints seriously. If your child tells you he or she is being bullied, believe him or her. Children tend not to exaggerate or lie about being bullied.
• Intervene. Children are almost always reluctant to have a parent intervene. They fear the social stigma of having their parents fight their battles, but it is something that you, as a parent, need to do.
• Do not talk to the parents of the bully about the situation, as they tend to defend their child. Rather, involve school administrators who can manage the communication with the bully's parents.

Recently, Shifrin shared his tips on steps parents can take if their child is bullied on Good Morning Maryland, on WMAR-TV, in Baltimore, MD. Please see the link below for a video of the segment:

http://tinyurl.com/39d3b3u

About Jemicy School:

Jemicy School, founded in 1973, provides a highly individualized, flexible, and challenging education for above-average to gifted college-bound students with dyslexia or other language-based learning differences.  A recognized leader in the field of education, Jemicy educates students between the ages of six and eighteen on two campuses.  The Lower and Middle School and the Upper School are each based in Owings Mills, Maryland just a short distance from one another.

Jemicy's philosophy is based upon building the academic and higher order thinking skills of bright young people through carefully applied research and time-tested multisensory learning.  Jemicy serves the whole child, celebrating each student's strengths while exploring individualized skills and strategies that will build the foundation for success in school and in life.

For additional information please contact Colleen Riopko of Barb Clapp Advertising and Marketing at (410) 561-8886 or via email at [email protected].

SOURCE Jemicy School