When does teasing become bullying?
Bullying behaviour has become so prevalent that many people believe that it is an almost inevitable part of growing up in today’s society – part of the rough and tumble of daily life. However, all children have natural trends towards competitive behaviour, teasing their peers to determine their own social positioning and establish their role in the overall educational hierarchy. So, how do you know when the line between harmless teasing and competition and full-blown bullying has been crossed?
What is teasing?
Teasing is generally good natured and usually takes place between those who share a close relationship and is often a way of communicating or ‘bantering’ between friends. For the one doing the teasing it is a playful way of provoking a reaction without an intention or desire to cause hurt.
Where a group of friends are concerned, the teasing would not focus on one person all the time; it would be shared equally amongst the group. Teasing does not ridicule or make fun of any characteristic a person cannot change. If someone is upset or offended by the teasing and they ask the person to stop, they would. Teasing can sometimes be taken too far, even between friends, but it would generally not be considered bullying.
When does teasing become bullying?
Of course, people have different views as to the level and balance of what constitutes teasing before it would be considered bullying, because, by its very nature, it is subjective. However, there are typically five key components to bullying:
- There is an intention to harm: bullying is deliberate behaviour that sets out to upset and cause distress.
- There is a harmful outcome: one or more people are hurt physically or emotionally.
- It is persistent and repeated: bullying involves repeated acts of aggression and hostility. An isolated aggressive attack, like a fight, is not bullying.
- It is direct or indirect: bullying can involve direct acts of aggression, such as hitting someone, as well as indirect acts, such as spreading rumours.
- There is unequal power: bullying involves the abuse of power by one or several people who are more powerful or perceived as being more powerful, often due to their age, physical strength, or psychological resilience.
What to do in the classroom to prevent teasing turning into bullying
It is important to discuss bullying with children and young people to raise their awareness of the problem and teach them how to treat others with respect. Often children do not know when their behaviour crosses the line and becomes bullying so it is important to ensure the following exercises are undertaken in the classroom:
- Have the children discuss bullying; explore with them what bullying is and what should be done.
- Get the children to do a survey to find out what other children and young people think about bullying, allowing the children who conduct the survey to present the results to other children and adults in your educational setting.
- Have the children and young people in your educational setting make up rules for behaviour and ensure everyone signs and that they agree with the rules, and also agree possible solutions ort punishments in response to bullying behaviour.
- Talk with the whole group about how to repair a relationship after being disrespectful. For example, discuss apologies (both giving and receiving), as well as acting respectful in the future to show the person you hurt that you have learned from your relationship mistakes.
Preventing bullying training enables your staff to halt these damaging cycles of behaviour. EduCare is a leading provider of safeguarding and duty of care training. We strive to help all workplaces and individuals in taking care of those under their responsibility. Work with children? Get in touch and book preventing bullying training.
The Preventing Bullying course on recognising and preventing bullying behaviour is part of EduCare's training bundle for education settings. Find out about the EduCare for Education training courses today.
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