It's hard not to sympathize with the Tampa father who threatened his disabled daughter's school bus bullies. Knowing your child is being harassed by classmates is enraging, and can leave a parent feeling helpless. But there are steps you can take to equip your child to make the best choices in a tight situation.

Brad Fantle of Tallahassee Taekwondo shared some troubling bullying statistics:

• 23% of elementary students reported being bullied one to three times in the last month.
• 77% of the students said they had been bullied at one point in the past, and 14% of those who were bullied said they experienced severe (bad) reactions to the abuse.
• 90% of 4th through 8th graders report being victims of bullying.
• Half of all bullying incidents go unreported.

While being bullied at one time or another is part of everyone’s childhood, it doesn’t mean your child has to be a victim. Brad also offered some tips for parents to arm their children with the tools they need to repel bullies:

• Body language, such as good eye contact and a clear loud voice, goes a long way. Your child should never challenge a bully, but a confident (not arrogant) attitude could make them a less-likely target.
• Role play with your child. Kids have in mind what they would want to say or do, but they need to role play aloud with your guidance to make it actually work. Practice makes permanent!
• Encourage your child to make a pact with their friends to always help each other, by either staying together, or running for an adult if the situation calls for it. There is strength and safety in numbers.

And of course, remind your child that you have open ears and open arms - so you can be among the first to know if there's trouble. Encourage them to treat others with kindness and respect - and to never join in with a bully, no matter how "cool" or "popular" they may seem. They may already know it, but hearing your expectations directly from you reinforces your family's values.

Like many in the area, Florida State is what initially brought me to Tallahassee. Like many college students, it was my first time living away from home. And I was surprised to find I was the only one on my entire dormitory floor who knew how to cook anything beyond Easy Mac.

Cooking with your kids does more than help them learn their way around the kitchen. We've long known that following a recipe strengthens a child's ability to follow directions, builds their understanding of math and chemistry, and boosts their self-confidence and self-reliance.

And you don't need to wait until they're older to start.

• Take your picky eater to the grocery store with you. Have them identify and choose any three fruits in the produce department they want, bring them home, and make a fruit salad together.
• Instead of leaving cookie dough for your babysitter to bake with the kids, leave all the basic ingredients (flour, sugar, eggs, chocolate chips) and let the kids follow a recipe with her from scratch.
• Believe it or not, a well-sharpened knife is safer than a dull butter knife. While we want to guard those little fingers, your watchful eye and helping hand will do more to protect than a sharp knife will hurt. Dull knives require more force, and that increases the likelihood that the knife will slip and cause harm. If you teach safe habits, they'll remember them.
• Remember: mess is fun! As long as the kids know that clean-up is part of the process, don't sweat the small stuff and they'll always think of cooking as enjoyable.

I'm not a cookbook connoisseur, but Annabel Karmel is my all-time favorite author of books of recipes and nutrition for infants, toddlers, and children. Her website is packed with information and ideas, too.

Next time you're in the kitchen, invite the kids to join you. They'll enjoy the attention, and your next surprise "breakfast in bed" might taste a little better!

There have been three suspicious incidents in the area in the past 72 hours - please be on high alert, and ensure your children know what to do if approached by a stranger.

The following are some recommendations from the Leon County Sheriff's Office about child safety:

Parents are urged to teach your children not to talk with strangers.

Children should not approach a motor vehicle for someone asking directions, or asking if they need a ride.

If a stranger does approach your child, tell them to remember the description of the motor vehicle and to report this information immediately to a trusted adult.

Parents should talk to their children about dangerous situations, and give them these easy-to-remember safety instructions:

1. If a stranger asks you or help or to keep a "secret," it could be a dangerous situation. Say no and tell a parent or trusted adult.
2. Trust your instincts. If you feel scared or uncomfortable, get away from the situation. Make an excuse or just run away, and go to a safe place.
3. Know what to do. Think "No, Go, Yell, Tell." If you're in a dangerous situation, say no, run away, yell as loud as you can, and tell a trusted adult.
4. Ask your parents first. If a stranger invites you to go somewhere, offers you a gift, or just wants to talk, say you need to ask your parents' permission first.
5. Stick with friends. It's always safer to play in a group. Don't let your friends go into a dangerous situation either - no, go, yell, tell!

Suspicious Incident Raises Awareness

Yesterday, just before 7:00PM, the Tallahassee Police Department received a phone call in reference to a suspicious incident that occurred after a local peewee football practice. The caller, identified as the football coach, indicated that one of his ten-year-old players was leaving practice (Gilchrist Elementary School), when a white male stranger offered the boy a ride home. The boy refused and the stranger fled as the coach neared the vehicle. Accompanying the man inside the vehicle was a white female, who appeared to be approximately 5 years of age. The girl has blue eyes and was wearing a pink dress. Based on information received, the girl did not appear to be distressed. Investigators are asking anyone with information about the above event to contact the Tallahassee Police Department at (850) 891-4200 or Crime Stoppers at (850) 574-TIPS (8477).

Suspect Description: White male, 25-30 years of age, brown or black 'spiked' hair, and wearing reading type glasses.
Vehicle Description: Large white pickup truck, possibly a Ford F-250 type vehicle.
Contact: David McCranie, Public Information Office, (850) 891-4255