11/02/2026
You only have to glance at the news to see itâŚ
Violence in schools and wider society is getting worse.
As parents, itâs natural to think, âMy child needs to be tougher. They need to be able to fight back.â
But hereâs the truth many people miss:
Fighting fire with fire just creates more fire.
Teaching children to be aggressive, to dominate, to âwin fightsâ doesnât make them safer. In fact, it often does the opposite. It creates the very attitude that fuels the problem in the first place.
What keeps children safe is not turning them into fighters.
What keeps children safe is helping them become good people with good manners, calm confidence, respect for others, and the judgement to avoid conflict whenever possible.
Real self-defence is not about standing your ground to prove a point.
Real self-defence is about having the awareness, confidence, and skills to:
⢠Stay calm under pressure
⢠De-escalate situations
⢠Make smart decisions
⢠And, in the rare moment itâs needed, protect yourself just long enough to get away to safety
Thatâs a world away from creating bullies.
Children who learn respect, discipline, and self-control are far less likely to be involved in violence in the first place. And if trouble ever does find them, they have the composure and ability to remove themselves from it safely.
We donât need more young fighters in society. We need more good young people.
Because the safest child isnât the one looking for a fightâŚ
Itâs the one who knows how to avoid it and has the confidence and skills to walk away.
