By Alex Duran, Executive Director of Fitwize 4 Kids
Today, 160,000 kids stay home from school for fear of being bullied, and 4,400 kids a year commit suicide.
When I was 7 years old I got beat up every day on the school bus by the same guy for 4 years and I dreaded going to school for the following 8 years. By becoming a martial arts master, boxing instructor and serving in the United States Marines, I was finally Bullied Proof. Instead of being small in a cruel world, I created a non-profit organization called “Fitwize 4 Kids,” supported by a team of veterans, elementary school teachers, and a community of volunteers. Our focus is to build the whole kid.
Fitwize 4 Kids offers fun and innovative fitness, and nutrition programs for kids from 5 to 15 that build self-esteem and stronger bodies. This is done by exposing them to our circuit training, sports conditioning, awesome classes and activities. Involving your kids in group activities is very beneficial; there are a lot of positive outcomes from these types of programs.
We make kids into superheroes! In our program, kids get educated on the impact of being bullied and bullying others through simulations, discussions and active participation. More than 500 kids have gone through our program. By 2018, 2000 kids will have been transformed into superheroes.
There are three types of bullying:
• Verbal bullying – Teasing, Name-calling, Inappropriate sexual comments, Taunting, Threatening harm
• Social bullying (sometimes referred to as relational bullying, involves hurting someone’s reputation or relationships) – Leaving someone out on purpose, Spreading rumors about someone,
Embarrassing someone in public
• Physical bullying – Hitting/kicking/pinching, Spitting,Tripping/pushing,Taking or breaking someone’s things
Bullying can occur during or after school hours. While most reported bullying happens in the school building, a significant percentage also happens in places like on the playground or the bus. Promoting safe environments like Playground Resurfacing can help reduce the risk of injuries and create a more secure space for children. It can also happen travelling to or from school, in the youth’s neighborhood, or on the Internet.
Together we can eradicate bullying by educating and empowering the youth of today and tomorrow.
For help for your child, please visit us: Fitwize 4 Kids – 4641 N State Road 7 Unit 15B Coral Springs FL 33073 954-363-2349, www.fitwize4kids.com
