Teaching children how to handle abuse

Nearly every person would have had to face abuse in some form or another either in school or home or neighborhood.

When children face it and are not confident enough to retort or report and live with it as they grow up, they turn into adults who are often abused and still not know how to put a stop to it until it is very late for others to help them out.

Abuse is real and we should teach children how to handle situations where they are body shamed or ridiculed or even man-handled.

Even now, we can see more body shaming on social media. Unless there is awareness spread among children, this will not stop.

1. Children should learn to respect their peers, elders, and others in general.

2. Children should be taught that they should not bend to abuse or feel bad about themselves when others tease them.

For example, I have been body-shamed by cousins because I was thin. In school, I was teased for wearing spectacles. I remember reporting it to the teacher who admonished the students who passed rude comments.

The story goes on and some people still continue to body-shame me but I reacted and now they don't bother me.

We should not bend to such shameful acts. Those who do this are not perfect and that is what puzzles me. Maybe they are just venting out their own frustrations at others whom they think are not deserving of their respect.

Nobody is perfect and no one should ever try to shame or ridicule others.

Children should learn to speak for themselves. Parents should teach the children to learn to fend for themselves otherwise when they are alone, they will feel insecure and this could lead to more problems.

How to handle the abuse

1. Report to authorities
2. Confide in others - elders, friends, family member
3. Be brave and confront the abuser
4. Repeat to yourself that you are perfect
5. Do not try to change for the sake of others

image - free pixabay