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The Best Parenting Tips to Bullyproof Your Child This Year 

One of our many fears as a parent is knowing our child is being bullied. Bullying is a serious issue, and the effects can last forever. We hear too many stories of bullying in the most common places and some by the most unsuspecting people that it is difficult not to worry about it. Plus, bullying can also actually happen without even the victim realising it until it has been done. 

While we naturally remind our children not to be a bully, we should also spend as much time making sure that they know how not to avoid being bullied. 

The Effects of Bullying 

The most common type of bullying is taunting, embarrassing and name calling, and how we wish that those are the only ones. It has taken many other types (social, verbal and physical) like threatening, spreading rumours, isolating, and physically harming the victim. It happens everywhere – in school, on the school bus, at the park and now even online! The effects of bullying do not stop when the bullying stops, and it goes beyond the victim; it also affects those who see it and even the bully. The victim may withdraw from most social interactions, avoid school; witnesses may avoid the victim for fear of association and falling into the same situation. These need to be addressed as soon as possible because the consequences of bullying can last well throughout the person’s lifetime. 

It greatly affects the self-esteem of the victim, especially if he or she is bullied in public. This affects his whole being and his performance. The victim loses confidence in himself and his abilities and often leads to anxiety and/or depression. A lot of the victims of bullying never really fully recover and without proper counselling, they can end up committing suicide or even worse the victim will take out all the pent-up anger and frustration out on other people. 

Those who bully also usually suffer consequences in the sense that they find it difficult to break out of the mould without proper guidance from their parents or guardians. They grow up getting into more trouble, not just with people but also the law. Many of them do not perform well in school and fail to get good jobs and eventually become abusive partners or parents as well. 

How Martial Arts Can Help Prevent Bullying 

One way to prevent children from being bullied, or becoming a bully, is to get them into sports or team activities. In Martial Arts, the students are not taught how to fight. They are constantly reminded that their skills and training must only be used to defend themselves or others. They learn to respect each other and control their actions. They also learn discipline, gain confidence, build self-esteem and teamwork. All these can help prevent the development of both bullies and victims. 

Displaying confidence can stop bullying because bullies usually crave attention and victimise those who fear them. Those who have enough confidence will no longer feel the need to demand attention, and in the same breath, those who are confident will not attract nor fall prey to bullies. 

A martial arts training reinforces discipline, and this is another way of preventing bullying. How so? This is done by giving the children guidelines and consistent follow-ups on the different types of behaviours. They are reminded which behaviours are acceptable and which are not. They work together with the parents to make sure that these are followed and that consequences are given every time they are not. 

One of the reasons bullying happens is because bullies have a need to be in control and command others. When children are taught to respect themselves and other people, they will not bully nor allow to be bullied. Martial arts stresses the importance of respect; they are always reminded that respect is not just given, it must be earned. If they want their classmates to respect them, they must respect their classmates as well. 

Self-control is another thing that is taught and emphasised in martial arts. They are trained to be aware of and control any negative thoughts and feelings they may have. They are taught how to empower themselves and others so that any form of negativity is ignored. 

Another common trait among bullies is that they lack compassion. They do not care about what other people think or feel as long as they get what they want. Victims of bullying, on the other hand, are usually those who come off as weak and are often alone. By teaching children empathy, bullying can be prevented because it teaches children to always take into consideration the feelings of others. It also encourages them more sociable, and this will enable them to make friends easily. 

Martial arts is also a great way to relieve stress. The pressure to do well in school and keep up with the requirements and everyone else can be a bit too much for children. They need to be able to take out that stress or frustration through a physical activity to avoid harming anybody and martial arts provides that. 

Empower your children with these necessary life skills by enrolling them in a martial arts program and reap the benefits, not just against bullying but in raising better children all around.