No Room for Bullying

Question: "What is a bully?"

Answers: "Someone who bothers you...wants to hurt you...pushes you around..."

Those were some answers given by 3-10 year-old kids who attended the first annual, "#NoRoomForBullying event" held at Gracie Barra of Long Island in New Hyde Park, NY. This great event was made possible by Vida Lok (@mommylok), Maria Adcock (@biculturalmama)  and the wonderful staff of Gracie Barra Long Island (@gblongisland). It was educational and fun for the kids and parents. 

I think every child should attend an anti-bullying event like this one, as it is important to learn how to stand up to bullies and also to prevent a kid from becoming a bully. Adults should also be taught about bullying, as it is not something that happens only in childhood. Bullying affects the child's emotional psyche and social life deep into adulthood. 

The "No Room for Bullying" event was very structured and kid-friendly. The instructors interacted with the kids showing them practical ways of self defense against bullies while exercising and having fun. 

Warm - up exercises:

Chase warming up!

The kids answering questions regarding bullying:

Example of verbal bullying:

Instructors demonstrating how to defend oneself when pushed to the ground: 

The kids practicing how to defend themselves:

How to break free when pinned to the ground by a bully:

Practice! Practice! Practice! Helps give your child more confidence to defend himself/herself against bullies. 

Learning the importance of friends in fighting bullies:

Miriya's friend telling the bully to back off. 

Chase looking out for his new friend.

The amazing instructors at Gracie Barra of Long Island not only taught the kids how to identify and defend themselves against bullies, but also self control, self confidence, focus, respect, and discipline.

Shaking hands with the instructors at the end of class.

The lessons learned at this event should not end with the hand shakes. We need to discuss bullying and practice self defense with our children throughout their lives. Through practice, our kids will gain confidence in themselves, thus becoming less of a target for bullies. 

Thank you Vida, Maria, and Gracie Barra of Long Island for a fun and educational day. 

Life is full of great moments! There's NO ROOM FOR BULLYING!

But there was room for a good snack!  After a great lesson on anti-bullying, the refreshments, provided courtesy of Honest Tea, Little Bird Chocolates, Funny Face Dried Cranberries and The Gourmet Bake Shop, really hit the spot!

Update: Just received the anti-bullying guide from Gracie Barra Long Island. Click on link to open: "The Bullying Repel Guide: How to Transform Bullying into a Positive Experience."