Rudolph: A Tale about Bullying?

Rudolph:  A Tale of Bullying

Rudolph the red-nosed reindeer
had a very shiny nose.
And if you ever saw it,
you would even say it glows.

All of the other reindeer,
used to laugh and call him names.
They never let poor Rudolph
join in any reindeer games.

Then one foggy Christmas Eve
Santa came to say:
“Rudolph with your nose so bright,
won’t you guide my sleigh tonight?”

Then how the reindeer loved him
as they shouted out with glee,
“Rudolph the red-nosed reindeer,
you’ll go down in history!”

-Robert L. May

With bullying being so prevalent, I think that there is a wonderful lesson in the song that children, parents and educators alike overlook. It may sound trivial and it may sound like I’m sucking the fun out of a song. However, I think that it’s a pretty good lesson. We sing the song and remember the love and glee. We don’t think much about the meaning (and maybe we shouldn’t), but Rudolph was a loner who was picked on by his peers for being a little different.

Rudolph’s red nose made him different and made him a source of ridicule. As the poem/song says, the other reindeer used to laugh and call him names. Many children in our schools today face the same issue day in and day out. Rudolph was never allowed to join in their playtime. How many children (possibly your children?) feel this way?

THEN…Santa realized that he could use Rudolph’s difference and it benefited the whole. In my mind, the moral is that even kids with differences have something wonderful about them that should be recognized. It was only after Santa let the other reindeer know that Rudolph could save

Christmas that the reindeer (the bullies!) accepted Rudolph.  For the purpose of this lesson, Santa could be parents/teachers/adults who can help make children feel safe. Santa easily turned the situation around and parents can work towards doing the same by teaching their children to relax, accept differences and see the good in people. Even though kids might have differences (and they ALL do, in some fashion or another), it is up to the others to include them in things. You never know what “hidden” assets someone might have that make the person totally awesome!

When thought about in this light, the song might resonate with the parents of bullies. They might be able to talk about Rudolph during holiday season and encourage their children by telling them about how Rudolph was different but that the other reindeer finally saw him as being wonderful. Similarly, the song might resonate with the parents of children who are being bullied. The story of Rudolph just might be something that your child can understand.

As we all enjoy the holidays at this time of year, let’s take a few moments here and there to think about what we can learn. What better way to do it than through joyful poetry and festive songs?

Happy Holidays!

About Lauren Huston:  Lauren Huston, MSW, an in-demand guest/ghost blogger, has proven to be a powerhouse in the social media world. Since creating her own brand, Lauren Huston, Social Media Lifestylist, she has built an enviable client list of businesses that count on the expertise of {LH} as the cornerstone of their social media marketing. In addition, Lauren is passionate about her dog, Raegan {RH}, and is devoted to her family.