5 Rules of Anti-Bullying
- Use your mind
- Use your words
- Use your legs
- Ask for help
- Defend yourself
1. Use Your Mind
I want you to develop the habit of carrying yourself in a confident manner. By thinking strong, you can act strong and by acting strong you are strong. You can do this by standing tall and using a strong voice, even when you are afraid. I am going to show you a drill called “Shykid/Superkid.
Get someone in your family to shout Shy Kid or Super Kid. When you hear “Shy Kid” I want you to drop your shoulders, look down at the floor and act really shy. How does that feel?
Not very good right? Not only does it not feel very good, it also makes you look like an easy target.
Now when you hear “Superkid”, I want you to stand tall, put your fists on your hips, pull you head back and look proud. How does that feel?
Pretty good, right? (Repeat several times)
Not only does it feel better, it also makes you look strong and confident and NOT someone that people want to bully. You may not want to walk around with your hands on your hips like Superman, but you can walk strong and confident.
2. Use your words
CALM. C-A-L-M “C.A.L.M.” stands for:
- Cool down
- Assert yourself
- Look the bully in the eye
- Mean it.
You can cool down by taking some deep breaths.
You can assert yourself by speaking up for yourself in a strong and confident voice. Practice with your parents, asserting yourself, may be saying something like, “stop picking on me”!
3. Use your Legs
The best way to avoid being bullied is not to remain in the vicinity, simply walk away! Don’t run if you can help it, walk away purposely like you mean to go where you are going. (You are not walking away due to the incident, that would make it look like you are affected by it, which you are not!)
4. Ask for help
Who can you ask for Help?
- Teacher
- Parent
- Martial Arts Instructor
- Police
- A shop keeper
- Another Parent, preferably a Mother with children with her. The mothering instinct will hopefully mean she will help you!
5. Defend Yourself
Let’s review “The Five Rules of Anti Bullying”
They are:
- Use your mind
- Use your words
- Use your legs
- Ask for help
- Defend yourself
Why do you think “Defend yourself” is the last one?
It is last on the list because we want you to try everything else first.
You should try to avoid a physical confrontation if at all possible and only defend yourself as a last resort. But at the same time, it is important to remember that no one has the right to harm you.
Christopher Allen