Self Defense/Situational Awareness

by Rae’s Creations

PLEASE NOTE: Some schools have a zero tolerance policy and will suspend both the bully and the victim when physical bullying takes place. Be sure you understand the potential outcome when your girls defend themselves.

Flower – Do all starred.

Triangle – Do 6 requirements including starred.

Circle – Do 7 requirements including starred.

Rectangle – Do all requirements including starred.

1. *What is self defense

When most people think of self-defense, they think of hitting someone back or karate. Ask the girls what they think Self Defense is. For older girls ask them what situational awareness is.

1. They may say things like Karate or Kung Fu or even punching people.

2. *What self defense really is.

A large part of self-defense has nothing to do with kicking or hitting another person. It involves being aware of your surroundings, listening to yourself and what you are feeling, knowing when leaving before a problem erupts is the right thing, using a confident voice and carrying yourself with confidence.

1. Practice telling someone to stop touching you in a strong voice and a passive (not strong voice). Remember you don’t always have to yell to be strong.
2. Practice understanding what’s going on around you. Play a game of marco polo (just not in the pool) can you tell where people are by the voice? What about if they don’t say anything? Remember no one should run! See how many girls you can touch without having to really see them.
3. Talk about leaving before a problem starts. Sometimes things are happening that you know are not good for you. What would some of these things be?

3. *Carry Yourself with Confidence!

1. One of the best ways to prevent bullying or getting yourself in a situation where someone might try and hurt you is to be sure you have a healthy self-esteem and carry yourself with confidence. This involves having good posture, walking with a purpose and making eye contact with those around them. However if you slouch and keep their eyes averted, this makes you appear weak and easy to target.
2. Work with girls on these techniques. And remind them that even when they do not feel confident, like walking into a really crowded cafeteria for the first time or going some place where they don’t know anyone, they should walk like they do.

4. *Stay in a group when you can

One way you can be safe is to always stay with a buddy or in a group. That’s why the buddy system is used for camping and on field trips.

1. Go on a walk or on a field trip and practice the buddy or “truddy” system (three girls). What happens if one girl in your group has to go to the bathroom or gets tired?
2. How can you help support other girls in the group. What if you were all on the playground and someone was bullying one of the girls. What would you say and do? Role play a situation like this.

5. *Attract attention when you don’t feel safe

Make sure your girls know that it is perfectly okay and encouraged to make a lot of noise if someone is threatening them or hurting them.

1. Not only should they be using a strong voice, but they should also shout, yell or scream.
2. The idea is to scare off a bully or someone that might want to hurt them by attracting a lot of attention to the situation, especially from adults or teachers.
3. This tactic also is important if the child is being attacked by a stranger during an attempted abduction. Being quiet and submissive is never a good idea.
4. Have the girls role play if a stranger is trying to take them. What can they do? How loud can you yell?

6. Be aware of their surroundings.

1. Take the girls outside. Have girls look around them. What do they see?
   1. Is there a group of rough-looking kids on the corner?
   2. Is there a strange car or person at the bus stop?
   3. What about the man at the back of the playground watching their every move?

Do these things set off a little alarm bell inside of them? How do they feel when someone that’s not quite right is watching them.?

1. Does something not feel right in the pit of their stomach? Being aware of what’s going on around them and trusting their instincts.

7. Take a self-defense class

Look for a local studio that will teach the girls through a one time class or allow them to watch a class of kids taking self defense class. Girls will not only learn how to defend themselves, but they also will learn confidence and self-control.

Although it is never a good idea to encourage your child to fight, there are certain self-defense related techniques they can use to protect themselves.

1. For instance, there are ways to block a punch that is thrown at them.
2. There are also techniques for removing someone’s fingers from their wrists.
3. Even taking one hour-long class will increase their likelihood of being able to defend themselves.

8. How Does personal safety impact you as you get older?

1. What are the risk factors and warning signs of an unhealthy relationship?
   1. How could these factors impact your safety.
2. What would you do if you saw a friend in an unhealthy relationship or situation?
3. Discuss with your leader how you contribute to the safety of yourself, your family, and your community.