If you're like millions of other Americans, you probably watched the Super Bowl on Sunday. And, if you're like me, you were more interested in the commercials than anything else. Although some of the commercials were questionable and others made me laugh until my sides hurt, there was one commercial that really struck a chord with me. And, that was the Hyundai / Team commercial. In fact, I even watched it more than once online.
In the commercial, a young boy is playing football at the park, when some mean kids, or perhaps bullies, approach him and take away the ball. When he questions them, they tell him to come back when he has a team. The next clip is of the boy and his mother. They give each other a look. There's no talking between the two, just a mother and her son obviously on the same page. They are not only going to gather a team, but she is taking her son back to the park where he can deal with the bullies again.
As a mother of a 9-year-old boy and a bullying writer for About.com, this commercial resonates with me on many levels. First, I like the fact that the boy in this commercial doesn't back down. He has the confidence and self-esteem to address the bullying head on and he comes up with a solution.
Second, I like how the mother empowers her son to stand up to the bullies. There is no sign of her coddling him or encouraging a victim mentality. Yet, she's got his back just like any good mother would when it comes to bullying. And together they are addressing the issue.
Third, I like the fact that he comes back with a group of friends. If there is anything that will stop a bully in his tracks, it is a group of supportive friends around the target.
When it comes to bullying in your own child's life, are you doing the things that are present in this commercial? Are you building your child's self-esteem so that he has the courage to stand up to bullies and not fall to pieces? Are you empowering your child to stand up to bullies? Do you have your child's back and are committed to helping him overcome bullying? Are you encouraging friendships in your child's life?
These are just a few of the things we, as parents, can do to prevent bullying in our kids' lives. If you want more ideas on bullying prevention, check out these articles:
- 4 Traits That Help Kids Cope With Bullying
- How to Make School Buses Bully-Proof
- How to Bully-Proof Your Middle School Daughter
- 13 Ways to Build Resiliency and Prevent Bullying
- 10 Ways to Prevent Relational Aggression in Girls
Remember, you also can email me your thoughts or connect with me on Twitter.
Photo courtesy of iStockphoto