Bullying: Should we encourage our kids to fight back?

A few months ago, I visited a shop to make some photocopies for some Teens I talk to on Sundays. I gave them to the owner to copy. He couldn’t help but notice the content and said it was interesting. I explained it was for Teens and went on to talk about the importance of guiding them and told him, that I had spoken to them about bullying and how they didn’t need to fight back.

Well, he surprised me by saying that he would encourage his son to fight back if he was being bullied, so that the bullies didn’t do it again and also it would make his son grow into a confident young man.

I, on the other hand had been encouraging teens not to retaliate (from a Christian point of view). I told him that I advised teens to walk away or report the person bullying ~ but I have to admit I totally understood his point.

Also, in London we have a high level of teen stabbings. So, even if I wasn’t a Christian I would still ask kids not to retaliate because the situation could escalate and end up with someone losing their life.

Do you think kids should fight back when they are being Bullied?

If you are a parent, what advice would you give your child?

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Ps. A follow up to this article is in the link below: "An Indirect Approact to stop Bullying".

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Interesting story about Bullying

http://bullyingisthepits.com/the-pit-bull-kitty-story-2