The new school draws closer, and it’s more important than ever to remember that everyone deserves to feel safe and respected. Unfortunately, many kids each year may face the hardships of being bullied, but there are plenty of ways you can help prevent it and make your school a better place for everyone. Here are three simple tips to help you stand strong against bullying:
- Speak Up. If you or someone you know is being bullied, don’t be afraid to tell a trusted adult. This could be a teacher, a parent, or a school counselor. Speaking up is the first step in stopping bullying. Kids might often be apprehensive to tell an adult about being bullied, thinking it might make the issue worse. However, that could not be further from the truth. Remember, adults can provide kids with the resources they need to stand up to bullies, and even stop bullying from occurring in the first place. Parents, be sure to talk to your kids about anti-bullying strategies, including getting teachers involved. Teachers can help out by keeping an eye on the situation during the school day— where most bullying takes place— and can make sure any problems are nipped in the bud. First and foremost, speaking up for yourself and using your voice shows bullies that their behavior isn’t okay.
- Be an Upstander. Regardless of the degree to which your child has experienced bullying, one of the best ways to stop bullies is to stand up for others that are dealing with them. When you see someone being bullied, it’s easy to feel scared or unsure of what to do. But remember, we have the power to make a difference. Encourage and train your child to be an upstander, who doesn’t just sit and watch, but goes out of their way to offer support to the victim of a bully. Helping someone in this tough situation to stand up to the bully, whether it be by getting the attention of an adult, saying something kind, or even asking them to join you in a different activity can make them feel less alone. Even the actions of 1 respectful child can help stop the bullying and show others that it’s cool to be kind!
- Confident and Calm. Lastly, one of the most effective ways for children to stop bullying is by learning how to be confident in themselves, and remaining calm in nature. The unfortunate truth is that bullies can be ruthlessly methodical in how they go about their ways, especially when choosing their targets. Bullies often target kids who seem scared or unsure of themselves, so that’s why it’s important to practice confidence, even if you don’t always feel it inside. Stand up straight, make eye contact, and speak loudly and clearly. Confidence and skill that needs to be constantly practiced, and showing that you believe in yourself can make a big difference. Furthermore, having self-esteem helps us keep a clear mind in stressful situations. Staying calm and level-headed shows bullies that their words and actions won’t bring you down.
Relating to Martial Arts
Practicing martial arts plays a significant role in bully prevention by equipping kids with the necessary physical and mental skills to stand up for themselves. Through martial arts, children learn self-discipline, confidence, and respect for others, which helps them to stand up for themselves and others in a non-aggressive way. The training fosters a strong sense of self-assurance, reducing the likelihood of becoming a target for bullies. Additionally, all forms of martial arts teach conflict resolution techniques that emphasize de-escalation and peaceful outcomes, helping kids handle bullying situations with calmness and control. Ultimately, training in martial arts will empower children to protect themselves and contribute to a safer, more respectful, and bully-free environment.
Try it at Home!
In addition to practicing the strategies listed above, there are plenty of ways for parents to help their kids stand up to bullying and stop it in its tracks this school year. One such way is by roleplaying through the drill detailed below, which will help kids learn to speak up when someone is bothering them. Here’s how it’s done:
- Name of the drill: “STOP!”
- What you need: ideally, this drill should be done with 2 adults, and 1 child. Alternatively, this can be done with 1 adult and 2 children, or even 1 adult and 1 child.
- How it works:
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- Your child will play the role of themself, while 1 adult plays the role of a teacher. If there is another available person, they will roleplay as the bully. If there is no one else available, an adult can play both the bully and the teacher.
- To start, the person acting as the bully will choose a repetitive and irritating, but still appropriate behavior. For example, poking, tapping, hair pulling, or even light shoving.
- The “bully” will start to repeat this behavior lightly to your child. Once your child realizes they are being bullied, they should turn around, and calmly say “I don’t like when you do that, please stop.”
- The “bully” will continue to repeat the behavior again. Your kid should turn around once more, and this time say, “I asked you respectfully, please stop doing that.”
- Yet again, the “bully” will continue the behavior. Now, your kid should look at the “bully” in the eyes, and loudly proclaim, “STOP!”
- One last time, the “bully” repeats the behavior. At this point, your kid should walk away from the “bully,” and find the adult playing the role of the teacher. They should ask the teacher for help by saying, “[name of the person acting as the “bully”] is bullying me by [insert irritating behavior] me, can you please help me.”
- At this point, the drill is over, but if you’d like, the teacher can then roleplay the act of talking to the bully and putting an end to the behavior.
Repeating this drill over and over will be great practice for kids to learn how to stand up for themselves by using their words, being confident and calm, and getting an adult involved when necessary. Furthermore, this drill teaches kids what to do when the bully won’t stop, even after taking steps like asking respectfully, and standing up for themselves. Lastly, it emphasizes how important it is to communicate to a teacher when dealing with a bully. By breaking out this simple drill each day, we can prepare our children to have a safe and respectful school year, free from the negative consequences of bullies!
In Conclusion
In conclusion, as kids prepare to head back to school, it’s essential they remember these three key tips for bully prevention: speaking up for themselves, being an upstander for others, and practicing confidence and a calm mind. These tips can help create a safer, more inclusive environment for everyone. Practicing martial arts can significantly benefit children in this journey, as it fosters the confidence, discipline, and self-respect needed to navigate challenging situations. By incorporating these tips and the lessons learned from martial arts, kids are better equipped to handle bullying and contribute to a positive and supportive school community!