Self Defense Tips for Kids
Due to their physical limitations and lack of awareness, children are especially vulnerable to threatening situations. Most children are trained to obey adults and will not protect themselves in the face of harm, but there are techniques that may help create a moment to escape or delay harm.
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Instructions
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Teach children their limitations. Do not feed them watered down information just because they are children. Children are often motivated to learn and remember important information when you show them that you have confidence in their intelligence.
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Train a child to observe people around them and to notice what those people are doing. Teach them to notice who is paying attention to them.
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Teach them to seek opportunities to escape a threatening situation. Tell them to run away and find help as soon as there is a chance.
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Explain that attacks should be simple and focused on the vulnerable and weak areas of the body. Poking the eyes, punching and kicking the groin, bending and twisting the fingers, and striking the throat and neck are all good options, but make sure explain that these techniques should only be used if there are no other options and real danger seems to be unavoidable.
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Teach them to strike with hard body parts, using the back of the head to strike a person’s face, elbow the throat and face, and heel-kick the groin.
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Teach them to react aggressively and loudly during an attack situation. Scream while wriggling, hitting and kicking. This can startle someone who expected to have an easy victim as well as bring outside attention to the situation.
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Attend regular self defense training or provide regular testing at home. Occasional exposure to self defense training is often inadequate to train a child to react properly during an attack. If a child cannot be part of a regular class, provide training yourself. Ask a trainer about simple techniques that you can do at home. Using playing techniques and surprise attacks such as bear hugs and wrist grabbing to keep them on their toes.
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Tips & Warnings
Children are used to holding hands, being picked up and being dressed. They are used to being touched. Teach kids to react defensively to inappropriate situations.
Most children have little experience reacting to aggressive contact from another person.
These techniques may be misused on other children. Teach a child that they are only to be used in the appropriate situation and that they can easily hurt others.
