| A new computer program may give children the | | | | In the game, children are asked to come up with |
| confidence they need to stand up to bullies at school | | | | different strategies for dealing with a bully. The virtual |
| by allowing them to try out different strategies in a | | | | characters will remember the suggestions that don't |
| virtual world. | | | | work and ask for better ideas. The research team |
| The project, which was funded by the European Union, | | | | tested the program on 1,000 school children in 30 |
| began in 2006 and was titled eCIRCUS (Education | | | | schools across Germany and the UK and said the |
| through Characters with emotional-Intelligence and | | | | results were encouraging, "even at this low exposure." |
| Role-playing Capabilities that Understand Social | | | | Though the game isn't currently available for |
| interaction). | | | | consumers, the idea of role-playing certain situations |
| The team, made up of educators, psychologists and IT | | | | with bullies can be a helpful one for fathers who are |
| specialists, set out to create an interactive setting for | | | | trying to help their children overcome a bullying problem |
| children to try out what they called "emotionally | | | | at school. |
| compelling interventions." | | | | Fathers should use their parenting skills to talk to their |
| One of the programs that has emerged from the | | | | son or daughter about what's going on at school and |
| project is FearNot! (Fun with Empathic Agents to | | | | how they've reacted to the bully. |
| Achieve Novel Outcomes in Teaching) and focuses on | | | | One idea is to take a cue from the FearNot! program |
| younger school children who are victims of bullying. | | | | and role play certain situations, allowing the child to |
| "Knowledge-based interventions don't necessarily | | | | practice certain strategies with their bully. This may |
| succeed," says Ruth Aylett, coordinator of the project. | | | | also help build the child's confidence and could help |
| "If we're able to reduce victimization, we're giving | | | | them say exactly what they want to when they are |
| people a way to get out of a very painful situation and | | | | confronted in the future. |
| improve the quality of their lives." | | | | |