Dealing with bullies

It is difficult to give a general answer why some kids are bullied while others are not.  It is a combination of many factors that is environmental as well as personal.  To illustrate, a child may simply have trouble socializing that makes him/her a target for bullies.  Or he/she may be the new kid in school.  Finally, a former friend may decide to bully your child for no other reason than that the bully knows he/she can get away with it.

Whatever the reason, there are ways to deal with bullies and Taekwondo can help your child.  As a result of learning Tae Kwon Do, your child can gain confidence by learning how to defend himself/herself, being in better physical condition, and graduating to higher belt levels.  In our school, we stress technique, coordination, and respect/discipline.

But Taekwondo alone is not the answer to dealing with bullies.  There are social aspects such as self-esteem, feeling good about oneself, and making an effort to make friends.  Simply telling bullies that he/she knows Taekwondo may increase bullying if your child does not know how to deal with bullies at a social level.  Knowing when to stand up to a bully versus avoiding a bully is a learned skill.  Also, a child has to know that it is ok to ask for help/advice from a parent/guardian/teacher.

A parent’s involvement is critical in helping kids deal with bullies at school.  We are here to support and help.  We are a Martial Arts school located in Glenview, IL.  We teach Tae Kwon Do, Kung Fu, and Tai Chi.  In addition to these classes, we offer kick boxing, fitness programs, and other events such as birtday parties.