For KidsWhat Would You Do?
Freddie and the Bully, Layla, age 6
What would you do?
Now that you know a lot more about bullying,
we would like to know what YOU would do in the following situations!
SITUATION A:
A small kid in your class is often picked on by a larger
kid. One day, you are in the lunchroom. You see the bigger kid trip the smaller
kid, causing him to fall and drop his tray of food. People start laughing at
the smaller kid. He is clearly upset and looks like he is going to cry
What would YOU do?
Suggestions:
1. Ignore the bully. If the bully tries to get a reaction
out of everyone, don't laugh or join in. Let him know you don't think what
he is doing is funny or cool.
2. Get a group of friends together to help the kid clean up his spilled lunch.
You might also invite him to sit with you?
This is not the only way to handle the situation. Maybe
you or someone else can think of something better!
SITUATION B:
There is this girl that you often see in the playground
by herself. Sometimes people spread nasty rumors about her, and you have heard
people call her names. One day, you see her walk over to play on the tire swing.
"You have cooties-go away!" a kid shouts at her. She sees another
group of girls and asks, "Can I play?" But one of the girls snaps
"Don't talk to her. She's a reject. If you talk to her, you're a reject
too." The girl looks very upset and walks away as the other girls call
her names. What would YOU do?
Suggestions:
1. Invite the girl over to play with you and your friends.
2. If you hear rumors being spread, stand up for her and say some good things
that you have noticed about her. Don't pass on what you hear, even if it makes
other kids laugh. (Think about what it would feel like if it happened to you!)
This is not the only way to handle the situation. Maybe
you or someone else can think of something better!
SITUATION C:
A new kid moves to the area and joins your class. A lot
of people make fun of this kid, and he doesn't stand up for himself. You discover
that when you tease him, you can get your friends to laugh. One day, you make
up a nickname for him that everyone thinks is funny and people start calling
him by that name. When you see how the name upsets the kid, you begin to feel
bad! But you tell yourself: You don't do it very often and most of the kids
pick on him much more than you. Still, the name you thought up really seems
to make him miserable! What would YOU do?
Suggestions:
1. That bad, nagging feeling is your conscience! Maybe others pick on this
kid more than you, but you're adding to the problem. If a lot of kids are
picking on this boy, he probably isn't having a very good time. But if you
pick on him too, it probably makes him feel even sadder.
2. Stop teasing the kid. (That nagging feeling you have will go away!)
3. Try your best to make others forget about the mean name you thought up.
When you see others pick on him, tell them it isn't cool and that the nickname
is really getting old.
4. Start being nice to the new kid. If you can apologize for being mean before,
that's great. But if not, just be nice from that point on.
5. Try to get to know him. Perhaps you'll never be close friends, but at least
you're nice to everyone. And then again, perhaps you'll end up making a new
friend!
This is not the only way to handle the situation. Maybe
you or someone else can think of something better!
And finally
We HIGHLY recommend these VERY cool websites
for kids:
Advice to Pupils
Children's Problem Page
(For additional resources, see our Resources).
|