Did you know that more than half of America’s teens are exposed to cyber bullying? Studies show this form of abuse is growing at a very fast pace. Cyber bullying includes rumors, threats, gossip and humiliation and happens through e-mail, websites, blogs, chat rooms, text and instant messaging, and videos. Cyber bullying statistics point to devastating effects on victims, such as bad grades, emotional stress, depression, poor self-esteem, sleep disorders, headaches, stomach pains and in some cases, suicide.

As your kids get ready to go back to school, now is the time to think about Internet safety and how to recognize the signs of cyber abuse.

Of course this is not a complete list and they are in no particular order but these are some of the things I would love for my children to learn easily and early on.

1. Stay in school. Don’t even think of dropping out.

2. Don’t have a baby until you’re married.

3. Don’t ever quit a job unless you have another lined up. And if you follow 1, 2, and 3 you will never live in poverty, according to statistics.