Would you teach your child to "hit back" at school if somebody hits them?

Answer 1

If they got hit first, yes, they need to know self defense. But if they started it, they'd be punished.

Answer 2

There's a trick to self-defense I have learned:
Be polite
Be alert
Be brave
Respect yourself and others

This is not to say that the child should just say, "Oh, that's okay" (or something to that effect) and let the bully rag on him. But it is hard to get into a fight with a polite person, and that's the first line of defense.
The second line is to watch for aggresive signs, and to move out of the way before the punch (kick, backhand, etc.) is thrown. That's not to say he/she should run away, but just dodge and hold their ground politely. Failing this, the third line is to yes, be brave and hit back. Carefully, deliberately, and quickly. Preferably in a way that won't be forgotten by the end of the day. And through all the lines of defense, the one who is being bullied should respect himself and those around him.
Yes, the child should hit back if he can't talk his way out or just out-wait the aggressor, but the fight should not escalate and there is no shame in being a tattletale. Once the child has made it plain that he/she can defend him/herself, verbally and physically, then the matter is over and done with.

Answer 3

This is a touchy question, where it is not always black and white. But, as a general rule of thumb, I would say yes! If they tell the teacher, then they have a "tattletale" reputation who hides behinds her apron strings! If you tell them to walk away, they have a reputation of being a coward, and it only gets worse, as other kids pick up that they are an easy target.

What I would tell my child is that if I find out that they ever started a fight, or did not make the effort to try to avoid fighting, then there would be serious consequences. But, if somebody has physically assaulted them, then they had better retaliate! I would have them know that if they got in trouble in school for it, that I would back them up by talking to their teacher, and letting them know that they were wrong if any punishment was placed upon my child for simply defending them self.

Answer 4

i've hopefully instilled the concept of Turning the other Cheek
-but given Circumstances i've also Hopefully instilled the idea of Crush the Opponent (again that is in certain circumstances)
my child is a girl- i've taught her that given the Level of Threat-
" take 'em Down" -after getting them Down relentlessly beat, kick, Gouge etc. until such time as an Adult is there to control the situation OR the other party is rendered unconcious.
[ if the attacking party is Adult (and she is threatened) the instruction is altered slightly than Above, she is not too stop until the Adult shows no sign of Moving. and/OR the Proper Law enforcement has arrived.] >>>in this Day&age, sad to say, Children are often the Victims-my Daughter will not only strike back, but given the situation I've told her to CUT it off, if need be.
-hope nobody is too alarmed by those comments- we are fun loving and all about friendship etc. My girl is a girlscout...matter of fact so am i & i know how to Dig a latrine 6 feet deep, tie many & various kinds of knots, build a Roaring FIRE that can consume anything---& SO DOES SHE. Love & Trust=Sure, but if "it is ON-better be careful what you asked for because She is to bring it with a Gusto surpassed only by God Almighty

Answer 5

These answers are one of the main reasons I homeschooled my sons and grandsons.

It is NEVER right for a child to hit someone, even in self-defense. This is not a correct lesson. My sons were each threatened in a public park, and each time they did exactly what they were taught to do. Fall to the ground in a fetal position, and run away as soon as possible. That is the only correct way to handle the problem.

Many people, including children, are killed every year by people who insist they were "defending" themselves.

There is no civilized reason to hit someone, and if we can't teach our own children to be civilized, how can we expect anyone to be?

Answer 6

NO, I have always taught my kids that violence is not the answer to the problem. Just because one hits another, does not give the other the right to hit back. The one that does the hitting needs to disciplined in some way. It takes a bigger person to walk away after being hit than to hit back. When you hit back, all you are doing showing is that you are just as little as they are.

Answer 7

No!! we were taught that violence is not the answer. When we have kids we will teach them to go to an adult for help. You only hit back if you have no choice and have to defend yourslef.

We just read some of the answers and at 15 years old we cannot believe what some of the so called "adults" are saying. Under no cercumstances should violence be an answer to anything. Only and we believe only if there is no choice would we hit back. Please for your own childrens sake think of what you are saying.

Answer 8

No! I will not teach my child to hit back if ever he's been hit. Instead I'll teach him to ask for help when he's in that situation. Cause that's better, than doing the same bad thing that happened to him.

Answer 9

Yes I would teach my child to hit back. And hit back twice as hard. Also to take any money that person may have for fcuking with them in the first place. Me and my kid can use the money to rent games and movies. Spend quality time together and continue those martial art lessons.

Answer 10

No.... and yes....

In the first instance...children should learn that hitting is wrong. They should not hit other kids....they should not ever hit agressively. They should also learn that the proper response to being hit is to let an adult know.

HOWEVER, in some instances children need to defend themselves. Sometimes, a child will be confronted by a bully or by someone where they must defend themselves. You don't want your kid to be picked on....and sometimes the only way to avoid this is to fight back.

Its something that needs to be balanced.

Hope this helps.

Answer 11

No. I have always told my daughter not to hit back. Violence rarely solves anything. Not that tattle-telling is better , but hitting is against the rules (and is un-safe) and the teacher needs to know when these things happen. The best thing to do is avoid being hit-(bob and weave)...Duck and cover...(rope-a-dope) or stay away from the violent children. But I have taught her not to be a target or a punching-bag...Turn the other cheek , plant your foot , jab with your left , get power from the hips and follow through when you punch.