How do you protect your child from bullies and nasty kids in school or even at home?

I can feel her pain seeing all the bruises as big as a five peso coin all over her knees and arms. She told me “Kuya Clarky pushed me twice, I fell on the ground”. The cousin is five years older and is supposed to be wiser or so I thought. Several times I hear stories from her that she’s being hit by her classmates in school. My husband was furious but what can he do? Hit the minor offender as well?

My heart was broken into a thousand pieces. No parent would want her kid hurt in any way. I always tell her to play fair and be polite. I never teach her to fight back. “If somebody hits you, stay away from them”. I always remind her. But lately, my husband after hearing all her woes would say, “If somebody hits you, hit them back or call for help”. I guess the latter sounds sensible enough but the first suggestion of hitting back is not right. It would only cause so much trouble. He’s a bit paranoid and keeps on telling me to arrange a meeting with the parents or teachers ASAP. Is it okay to talk to the parents? I have this feeling that parents of these kids could be defensive or overly protective. At least they will do their share in teaching their kids to be nice. They may not be aware of their kids' behavior in school or outside their homes. I’ve talked to her teachers before but I don’t think they’ve done anything. They told me that they’d usually give the offending kid a “time out” or be separated from the rest of the kids.

But what do you expect from a four-year old girl? With all her frailties, I don’t think she’s capable of hurting somebody. I’m afraid she will remain a constant victim of these bullies. I don’t want her to be teased, pushed around or hurt by her classmates or even her cousins. I don’t want her to do the other way around either.

This may sound weird but is it okay to let her take self-defense class such as karate and the like? Just a thought....