How it works
When someone is unkind on purpose, again and again, it is called bullying.
Being picked on is never the fault of the one who is picked on.
Walk away, say stop, stay with friends, and tell a grown-up. Keep telling until someone helps.
Worked examples
Say stop, and walk away
- Kit takes a slow breath and stands next to Dot, tall and calm.
- He says, 'Stop. That is not kind.'
- They walk away together, and Bun and Rex come along too.
Stay with friends
- Friends in a group feel braver.
- It is harder to pick on a group.
- Kit stands with Dot, and does not laugh along.
Telling is not tattling
- Fen teases Dot again, and saying stop did not work.
- Kit says, 'Let's tell our teacher.'
- Telling keeps people safe and happy, and a grown-up cannot help with something they do not know about.
Keep telling
- If the first grown-up does not help, tell another one.
- Keep telling until someone helps.
- The teacher talks with Fen, then with Dot, who feels heard and much lighter.
A taste of the worksheets
These are some of the questions on the sets. The printable sheets have more and an answer key.
- The first grown-up does not help. What can you do? š¤ Keep it a secret / š§āš« Tell another grown-up, and keep telling / š Stop telling
- True or false? A grown-up cannot help with something they do not know about.
- If a friend is picked on, stand with them and help them ___.
- Fix the mistake. Rex says, 'Dot got teased, so it was her fault.' What is true? š¤« Dot should have been quieter / āļø It was a bit of both / š It is never the fault of the one who is picked on
- Stretch: Why is it a good idea to stay with your friends? š« A group feels braver, and it is harder to pick on them / š Friends always laugh along / š¤ Then nobody needs to tell
Words to know
- bullying
- Being unkind on purpose, again and again.
- tell
- To let a grown-up know, so they can help.
- tattling
- Telling just to get someone in trouble. This is different from telling to keep people safe.
- firm
- Strong and steady.
Watch out for
- Being picked on is never your fault. Nobody deserves it.
- Do not laugh along to fit in, because the teasing can go on.
- Do not keep it a secret. Grown-ups cannot help if they do not know.
- Do not say mean things back. Walk away and tell a grown-up.
Try it
Whose fault is it when someone is picked on?
never theirs. Being picked on is never the fault of the one who is picked on.
What can you do when someone keeps being unkind?
walk away, say stop, tell a grown-up. These all help.
Is telling a grown-up the same as tattling?
no. Telling keeps people safe and happy.
What if the first grown-up does not help?
tell another grown-up. Keep telling until someone helps.
For grown-ups
Talk with a grown-up about who to tell if someone keeps being unkind, and name two grown-ups you trust at school and one at home.
If your child tells you about this, say 'thank you for telling me' and stay calm, as Kit's teacher did, and never ask whether they did something to cause it. Help them name two grown-ups they can tell at school and one at home.