A bully can turn something like going to the bus stop or recess into a nightmare for kids. Bullying can leave deep emotional scars. And in extreme situations, it can involve violent threats, property damage, or someone getting seriously hurt.

A video has been doing rounds on the internet where a kid is seen running towards a house while escaping from a bully who has been trying to rob him. The kid runs into the house while his dad pushes the bully out of his home. The dad warns the teenager not to come near his home again.

People have commented many opinions on the matter

Here are a few comments from users on Facebook and Tiktok

One user commented “The fact that he leaves the house unlocked specifically so it’s a safe haven for people who need it is so admirable, glad he managed the situation in a way where no one got hurt (but hopefully the kid got scared enough he won’t try this kind of thing again in the future).”

Devin commented “It is an unbelievably good thing to protect kids like that, but at the same time huge props for not jumping right to a gun or to calling the cops.”

UPDATE

The dad has since released an update on the viral video and why his home was kept unlocked. He explains that all kids who are bullied can enter his home for safety.

Why Do Kids Bully?

Kids bully for a mix of reasons. Sometimes they pick on kids because they need a victim — someone who seems emotionally or physically weaker, or just acts or appears different in some way — to feel more important, popular, or in control. Although some bullies are bigger or stronger than their victims, that’s not always the case.

Tips for Handling Bullying in School

If your child is being bullied, it’s important that you help them understand that bullying is never their fault. Bullying is always more about the person who is engaging in the behavior and not the person being targeted.

It’s not up to a child to prevent their own bullying, but it can be helpful to have a plan in place for how to address it and potentially help stop it from escalating. Here are some suggestions to prepare a toolkit for kids to use in tough situations when it can be hard for them to think straight.

Create a list of responses

Practice phrases your child can use to tell someone to stop bullying behavior. These should be simple and direct but not antagonistic: “Leave me alone.” “Back off.” “That wasn’t nice.”

Your child could also try, “Yeah, whatever,” and then walk away. “The key is that a comeback shouldn’t be a put-down because that aggravates a bully,” says Michele Borba, Ed.D., author of The Big Book of Parenting Solutions.

Role-play “what if” scenarios

Role-playing is a terrific way to build confidence and empower your child to deal with challenges. You can role-play the bully while your child practices different responses until they feel confident handling troublesome situations. As you role-play, teach your child to speak in a strong, firm voice.