Bullying and Peer Pressure DR RIAAN Olivier

Meet Simon… Hi my name is Simon. I am 8 years old and in year 3. What is your name? How old are you? How am I different to you?

I may have different eye and hair colour to you, and I might be younger or older than you, but there will also be similarities. Many times people focus too much on differences, and don’t see how they are alike, which can lead to bullying or other mean behaviour.

I want to tell you my story. I went to a new school I want to tell you my story. I went to a new school. It is very difficult for me because I don’t make friends easily. I am not very good at football but I swim very well. I am a kind and generous person. One boy in my class, Andrew, does not like me very much and says mean things to me so many times, in front of other children. Some of the children around would laugh, and others look sad for me but they do not say or do anything. This makes me feel very sad. I used to like school but I don’t want to go to school anymore because I am afraid Andrew will hurt me.

What is bullying? My friend Ellie, told me that I was being bullied. Who can tell me what they know about bullying? Nora, what do you know about bullying?

Bullying is when someone does something on purpose to make you feel bad or hurt you and it’s hard to make them stop. The behaviour happens more than once (repeatedly).

What does bullying look like? It is easier to identify if we look at the forms bullying can take: Physical bullying Hitting, kicking, biting, throwing things … Verbal bullying

There are MANY types of Bullying… Name calling, teasing, threatening … Physical Bullying: hitting, kicking, biting, throwing things Verbal Bullying: name calling, teasing, threatening, saying things about people behind their back Social Bullying: gossip, exclusion or leaving people out, telling people not to be your friends, not letting you play with them Cyber Bullying: using a mobile phone or the internet to send hurtful and mean messages, spread hurtful gossip or use angry language

I still don’t understand, what if I hurt someone by accident, is that bullying?

It can happen that someone hurts another person by accident, but when it happens more than once, it is probably bullying. Let’s play a game. I will show you pictures and you have to guess if it is bullying or not. Will all of you join in?

Is that bullying or not? Yes or No?

If you said: No Then you were right. The sister and brother are fighting over the remote control. This is not bullying.

Is that bullying or not? Yes or No?

Why do you think it is bullying? What form of bullying is it? If you said: Yes Then you were right. Why do you think it is bullying? What form of bullying is it? Can you give more examples?

You should do your homework!

Is that bullying or not? Yes or No?

If you said: No Then you were right. The mother tells her son to do his homework. Sometimes our parents need to discipline us. This is not bullying.

Oh no, not again! He is going to take my lunch box again!