About a month ago I took my son to Midway(a play park), he's almost 4 years old.I let him run around in the jungle gym with his older sister by themselves.
10 minutes later he ran to me and said there was a boy who hit him with plastic balls on the head.
With a smile on my face, I asked my son if he hit the boy back, my son said no. I knew what happened was not anything physically serious, but I didn't want my son to feel like he can be bullied. So I ask him if he can lead us to the boy. I whispered to my son's ear, that he should hit the boy back with the plastic balls, and I will be there to protect him.
What happened after was so funny, my son went in there and starting to hit the that boy with plastic balls, the boy was at least 2 years older than my son. as I watched, my son must hit that boy on the head with the balls for no less than 10 times, the boy saw my present and didn't dare to hit back. of course the balls doesn't hit hard throwing from a 4 years old kid.
My son ran back to me with a big smile on his face, then he went back to play in the jungle gym.
My principle is, I will not let my son feel like he can be bullied by anybody, doesn't matter if it's from older kids or adult. he has to learn to hold his ground.
Of course I could talk to the parents of the other kid, but what does that serve? that kid will say sorry to my Son, but at the end my son will still feel like he was victimize. It's more important for him to learn to defend himself with confident.