When Back to School Means Back to Being Bullied

When we think about going back to school, many of us have fond memories of new outfits, freshly sharpened pencils and Trapper Keepers. Unfortunately, for some kids, the start of a new school year is more likely to be associated with the fear and anxiety of facing a bully. While teachers and administrators have taken great strides in combating bullying and raising awareness of this serious issue, plenty of students still experience a school environment that is – at best – uncomfortable and – at worst – humiliating or even dangerous.

Sometimes there is no clear reason for why bullies target a particular student, but often they single out a child who is perceived as less confident or more likely to get upset or visibly react to taunting, teasing or threats. While parents can’t completely “bullyproof” their kids, they can offer guidance that may reduce the likelihood that they are victimized, or help them to defuse a potentially volatile situation.

Encourage your children to carry themselves in a calm and assertive way. Usually, the best approach when running into a bully is to simply walk away or ignore him or her. If that isn’t effective, kids should be coached to calmly, but firmly, set boundaries by telling the bully to stop the offensive behavior. Bullies thrive on their victims’ reactions, and may give up when they are not getting the fearful or embarrassed response they desire.

Make sure your children know that they can and should report all incidents of bullying to an adult – a teacher, principal, coach or guidance counselor. Kids should be taught that reporting a bully isn’t tattling or a sign of weakness, but a way of standing up for themselves and others who may be victimized next if the bully isn’t stopped. Not speaking up only emboldens the bully to escalate his or her threatening behavior.

If your son or daughter is unable to avoid a bully, and is in danger of physical harm, they should be able to protect themselves and know how to use self defense to get away from a violent situation. This is, of course, an absolute last resort when dealing with a bully. But enrolling your children in a self defense course (such as a martial arts training class) is a good way to ensure that they would be prepared if encountering a worst case scenario. Also, learning some basic self defense skills helps kids to build confidence and a more secure sense of self, which in turn makes them a less likely target of the typical bully.

Contributed by USA Karate & Fitness Official Training Center www.usakaratefitness.com

www.facebook.com/usakaratefitness