Dr David Coleman: If your child is being bullied physically they should defend themselves – now let me explain why
By allowing your child to react physically when violence is directed at them, you are not encouraging them to be an aggressor, but rather letting them know that they are entitled to defend themselves
Celebrate your child’s willingness to stand up for himself, while discouraging unprovoked aggression. Photo: Getty
Bullying in the real world is still a big issue for children. With the rise in smartphone ownership among children, we may be more conscious of things like cyberbullying, which is also a big deal, but it can lead us to forget that children still verbally, physically, and psychologically bully each other in real life.
Indeed, sometimes online bullying is just an extension of the bullying that happens in school, playgrounds, sports clubs, scout groups, dance troupes and anywhere else children congregate. We still need to give our children the tools to try to respond to bullying, as well as ensuring that they don’t become the bully.
Join the Irish Independent WhatsApp channel
Stay up to date with all the latest news
