Cyberbullying - Vanessa Rogers

Children and teenagers text, network and twitter online as second nature, but when emails or texts are used to threaten, harass, intimidate or embarrass someone, they can turn from being a source of enjoyment to a source of crippling anxiety and fear.

This approachable book is packed with advice, games and activities for groups and individuals to help young people understand what cyberbullying is, how they should behave online and how they can stay safe. The activities range from quizzes and competitions to storyboard games and art activities, and cover issues such as how easily personal information can be forwarded, the risks posed by unknown 'friends' on social networking sites, and how to discuss and deal with bullying issues. They are designed to encourage young people to think about their own behaviour and attitudes and give them the skills and knowledge to stay safe in a digital world.

Particularly suited to children and teens aged 11+, this essential book will be an invaluable resource for parents, teachers, youth workers, and anyone working with young people who could be exposed to cyberbullying.

Vanessa Rogers is a qualified teacher and youth worker with over ten years' experience both at practitioner and management levels. Prior to becoming a nationally acclaimed youth work consultant, Vanessa managed a wide range of services for young people including a large youth centre and targeted detached projects in Hertfordshire, UK. Vanessa's website can be found at www.vanessarogers.co.uk.

Teacher and youth-worker Rogers has compiled an excellent primer for adults to use with young people in understanding and evaluating the risks of various online behaviors... She gives excellent activities to do with children and young adults to help them understand the issues involved and launch poignant discussions among peers, such as providing various profiles of people and having the group evaluate the appropriateness of adding this person to their network of contacts. Any adult who works with young people would be wise to implement these activities, probably as early as age ten. Highly and unequivocally recommended.
Library Journal

This is an informative book that once dipped into makes it fell like an essential read. Described as a valuable resource particularly to people working with children and teens, it soon becomes apparent that it would be useful for all parents. It is packed with practical exercises that explore different hypothetical scenarios; how to deal with all kinds of cyberbullying and how to deal with being the bully. It is punchy and inventive helping young people face this issue without being alarmist. I found some of the cyberbullying examples mirror recent cases in the press and this makes it very real.
Families South West

This is a useful little book which largely consists of exercises to facilitate discussion or thought about the use of internet. Although the title is cyberbullying, the exercises are broader and look at safety as well as bullying. The exercises are set up for groups and, as such, are most likely to be useful in schools, youth groups or similar. However, with some thought they could be adapted and used with individual young people.
Youth in Mind

This booklet has a range of very useful practical activities to be used with young people to raise their awareness of cyberbullying and how to stay safe online. The issues are clearly outlined in the introduction, with short explanations of how a range of media from mobile phones to chat rooms and websites can be exploited in different ways by the cyberbully... The activities, with their accompanying worksheets, are simple yet effective and well thought out, and sure to provoke good discussion.
SLA- School Librarian Journal

This approachable book is packed with advice, games and activities for groups and individuals to help young people understand what cyberbullying is, how they should behave online and how they can stay safe. The activities range from quizzes and competitions to storyboard games and art activities. Cyber bullying covers issues such as how easily personal information can be forwarded, the risks posed by unknown 'friends' on social networking sites, and how to discuss and deal with bullying issues. They are designed to encourage young people to think about their own behaviour and attitudes and give them the skills and knowledge to stay safe in a digital world.`
Fostering Newsletter

Cyberbullying is a valuable resource. These interventions will help youth make safe decisions in the digital world. The activities are clearly described and will involve young people. Highly recommended!
Stan Davis, founder of Stop Bullying Now!, bullying consultant and author of Schools Where Everyone Belongs: Practical Strategies to Reduce Bullying

Some of the students at Red Balloon, a charity that recovers severely bullied children, have been so frightened by unwanted internet and mobile intrusion that they have been unable to attend school. Helping young people take responsibility for their own behaviour and appreciate the dangers of digital communication and social networking, while at the same time giving them the skills and knowledge to stay safe, is of the utmost importance in the 21st Century. This book, which deals so thoroughly with the issue of cyberbullying, does just that.
Carrie Herbert, Chief Executive, Red Balloon Learner Centre Group, UK

Vanessa Roger's book provides a way for parents and children to start tackling the realities of the cyber world and its newest travesty: cyberbullying. Her overview makes cyberbullying a topic that parents and educators can speak with their children about and begin the process of making it more manageable.
Dr Joel D. Haber , PhD, "The Bully Coach", clinical psychologist and author of 'Bullyproof Your Child For Life'

I found this book to be very insightful and necessary... It is important that all parents are aware of the warning signs and know how to handle this issue should it be happening to their son or daughter... This book is a must read.
Teri Schroeder, Chief Executive Officer, i-Safe Inc, USA