The documentary A Brave Heart: The Lizzie Velasquez Story, opens with a young woman walking through her former elementary school and recounting how cruel other children were to her as early as kindergarten. That woman is Lizzie Velasquez, who was born with a rare congenital disease that has caused partial blindness and prevents her from gaining weight. 

The film shows the triumphs of a person who has grown up being labeled “different.” It takes us through how the 23-year-old learned to confront fear and ignorance head on, by standing up and explaining her condition to others. We see how she thrived, gaining friends, doing well in school, and becoming a cheerleader. But it also focuses on her greatest challenges, particularly how she fought back following a cyberbullying attack at the age of 17, when a stranger uploaded a video of her on YouTube and called Lizzie: “The ugliest woman in the world.”

Her ultimate lesson for kids online: “You are the biggest influencer in your life.”

A Brave Heart, now in theaters, is a movie parents should make an appointment -- soon -- to watch with their children. While my son, at 6, is a bit too young (mostly because of his short attention span), this documentary has ignited in me an absolute sense of urgency to talk to him about online behavior and etiquette.

When given the opportunity to interview Velasquez this week, I asked her for tips on how parents can help kids navigate the online world and deal with bullying. I’ve been navigating the online world since I was in high school, but so much has changed since the dial-up world of the 1990s. I evolved with the web. When it comes to teaching my son how to behave online I am honestly not sure where or how to begin.

Velasquez was quick to point out that the Internet is not all bad. “Back when Myspace was around I couldn’t wait to have my own account. My parents told me I could get one as long as I was okay with the fact that with the good comes the bad. I believe there definitely are good things about social networking. It’s a way for people to connect all around the world.” 

Still, kids need to be prepared and they need the right tools. She stressed that it’s crucial for parents to talk to their children about cyberbullying, even before they get online. “My biggest piece of advice when it comes to bullying is to have an open communication about it. I would say to let the conversation happen naturally. Having an open and honest conversation about the good and the bad of the online world will be very helpful at any age.”

And as parents we need to know what to do if we suspect our kids are the ones who are behaving inappropriately. Again, Velasquez stresses open communication and approaching this issue with compassion. “Talking it out with your child if/when they are the bully will be a lot more effective than pointing the finger at them and getting angry right away.”

What should kids do when they witness or experience bullying online themselves? Velasquez says don’t pile on or bully back. “We came up with a campaign that will hopefully lessen the amount of bullying back. We are suggesting when you see a bad comment to simply say, ‘I’m taking the high road.’” 

What Velasquez has done with her life is inspiring and through her accomplishments and struggles, she relied on the strength and support of her family. She wants other parents to realize how important their role can be. “I hope that parents learn that there is a light on the other side of being bullied. I hope their eyes are opened to the fact that they can be a huge part of helping their children find that light.” 

Dresden Shumaker is a writer, advocate and appreciator of movie popcorn. She chronicles her adventures in single parenting on CreatingMotherhood.