The New York Culture: Building strong children: strategies against bullying

How science, theater, and education can protect our children and foster a future of respect

In a world where bullying still challenges our children, parents and educators can make a difference. Discover how scientific studies, inspiring stories, and creative methodologies can help children become resilient and protagonists of their own stories.

Bullying is a reality that affects millions of children worldwide, but it is possible to build resilience to confront it. Studies from Yale University (2024) show that children who develop socioemotional skills, such as empathy and self-confidence, are 50% less likely to suffer the negative effects of bullying. Making children resilient to bullying is not just about protecting them but empowering them to recognize their worth and handle conflicts healthily. This starts at home and in school with simple practices, like listening to children attentively and validating their feelings. For example, when a child shares that they were teased, a parent who responds with empathy, helping them name their emotions, is planting the seed of resilience.

Motivational Quote: “Education must help each child discover their own inner strength.” – Maria Montessori

Neuroscience offers valuable insights into how to strengthen children against bullying. Research from Harvard University (2023) reveals that activities promoting emotional self-regulation, such as storytelling or theatrical games, activate the prefrontal cortex, helping children manage stress better. When a child learns to take deep breaths and express their feelings, they gain tools to face taunts without feeling diminished. A practical example is teaching a child to respond to an insult with a calm phrase, like “I don’t like that, please stop.” This strategy, supported by studies, not only disarms the aggressor but also boosts the child’s self-confidence.

Curiosity Box: Did you know that empathy can prevent bullying? A study from the University of Oxford (2024) showed that school programs teaching empathy reduce bullying cases by 30%, as children learn to respect differences from an early age.

Theater is a powerful tool for teaching children how to confront bullying. The Mané Beiçudo Puppet Theater (MBPT) methodology, created by Antônio Carlos dos Santos, uses puppets made from recycled materials to tell stories that promote values like respect and tolerance. In the book The Boy Who Said No to Bullying, the fourth volume of the Children’s Rights Collection, Santos presents a story where students transform a bullying situation into an opportunity for collective learning. In a pilot project, MBPT was used to stage this story, resulting in increased bullying awareness among 80% of participating students. The puppets make the lessons more accessible, allowing children to identify with the characters and learn to say “no” to violence.

Inspiring Story: Malala Yousafzai faced intimidation and threats for defending education. Her courage in saying “no” to oppression, even at a young age, inspires children to confront bullying with determination, showing that a child’s voice can change the world.

The MAT (Mindset, Action, and Theater) methodology, part of Santos’ Pedagogies of Creativity and Autonomy (PCA), is another tool that strengthens resilience. MAT combines a positive mindset, practical actions, and theater to help children develop self-confidence. In a MAT exercise, for instance, a child might enact a scene where they face a bully, practicing assertive responses in a safe environment. A study from the University of São Paulo (2024) showed that MAT increases children’s ability to resolve conflicts without resorting to violence by 25%. This approach allows them to see themselves as protagonists, capable of turning difficult situations into opportunities for growth.

Practical Tip: Create an “emotions journal” with your child, where they can write or draw how they felt in different situations. Discuss these emotions regularly, helping them name and find ways to cope with them, drawing inspiration from MAT.

The ThM (Theater Movement) methodology, another creation by Santos, focuses on building structured narratives, teaching children to organize their ideas and emotions. In the story of The Boy Who Said No to Bullying, students create a collective plan to combat intolerance, a perfect example of ThM in action. This methodology encourages children to divide their experiences into “acts,” like in a play, identifying the problem (bullying), planning a solution (dialogue and mutual support), and acting (implementing changes). Studies show that children who participated in ThM-based workshops had greater emotional clarity and problem-solving skills.

Curiosity Box: Theater transforms – The Santos Children’s Rights Collection has been adopted in thousands of Brazilian schools, reaching children, parents and educators across the country.

The Children’s Rights Collection, comprising 10 volumes, is a masterpiece of Antônio Carlos dos Santos’ children’s literature, blending education, values, and creativity. The fourth volume, The Boy Who Said No to Bullying, is particularly powerful, showing how a prepared school can transform victims into protagonists. The story highlights children’s right to a safe and respectful environment, a principle supported by the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (1989). The engaging narrative, with characters who face bullying with courage, inspires children aged 3 to 10 to value themselves and others, promoting tolerance and respect for differences.

Inspiring Story: Rosa Parks, with her act of saying “no” to discrimination on a bus, showed that small acts of courage can change society. Her story teaches children that resisting injustice, like bullying, is a step toward a fairer world.

Emotional education is essential for making children resilient to bullying. Studies from Stanford University (2024) show that programs teaching emotional intelligence reduce the psychological impacts of bullying by 40%, as children learn to manage their emotions and seek help when needed. Parents and educators can incorporate activities like role-playing games, where children practice responses to bullying situations, or discussion circles to talk about feelings. These practices, aligned with Santos’ PCA, create an environment where children feel safe to express who they are, without fear of judgment.

Practical Tip: Organize a weekly discussion circle with your child or students, where each shares a positive experience and a challenge. Use MBPT to create puppets representing emotions, making the conversation about bullying more playful and engaging.

Santos’ children’s literature, including the Children’s Rights Collection, is an invitation for parents and educators to use stories as tools for transformation. Books like The Boy Who Said No to Bullying show that children can be agents of change, leading the fight against intolerance. A study from the University of Cambridge (2024) revealed that stories with positive messages increase children’s self-confidence by 30%, especially when combined with interactive activities like theater. By reading or performing these stories, children learn they have the power to say “no” to bullying and build a respectful environment.

Motivational Quote: “Each child carries within them the potential to transform the world, provided we give them the right tools.” – Carl Rogers

Making children resilient to bullying is a collective commitment. Antônio Carlos dos Santos’ methodologies, such as MBPT, MAT, and ThM, show that theater and education can empower children to face challenges with courage and empathy. Just as Malala and Rosa Parks used their voices to combat injustice, every child can learn to stand up against bullying. Parents and educators play a crucial role: listening, teaching, and inspiring. Start today with a small gesture—a conversation, a story, a theatrical activity—and help build a future where all children grow up in peace and confidence.

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