As a parent of a Black Belt student, you can rest assured that you’ve got a monument of bully prevention at your side. But what happens when your kid or teen sees a friend being bullied? What happens when they get bullied themselves?
Stopbullying.gov has a landing page that offers some very good advice and resources. They lay out some principles to prevent bullying, actions that all Black Belts can get behind:
Treat Everyone with Respect
Respect is a core Black Belt trait. It sounds counterintuitive, but even bullies should be treated with respect. It’s a “two wrongs don’t make a right” thing, in part. But also think about how a compliment derails a bully:
Bully: You look funny.
You: I love your shoes.
Try it out. Respect goes a long way.
Stand Up for Others
Black Belts learn to be upstanders, not bystanders. We don’t just watch someone else getting bullied; we stand up for them.
If you see someone being bullied, try this: Go over, get their attention (ignore the bully), smile and just say “come with me.” Then walk away from the bully to somewhere safe. This approach is simple, nonviolent, and tried and true.
Get Involved
Black Belt leadership projects raise money, awareness, and respect in local communities, and have made a huge impact on people’s lives. But starting at white belt, every student gets involved in their classrooms, homes and communities, introducing themselves with confidence and giving confidence to others.
Parents can help kids and teens stand up to bullies by being open. Listen to your kids, encourage them to talk about their problems, and let them know you’re there to help. Learning about bullying together can be a great start, and this site provides a list of books you can read and discuss with your kids.
If you’re curious about how the Black Belt journey creates leaders who stand up for others, start here.