Do you know the difference between making fun and hurting? Sometimes it is really difficult to differentiate and (not only) kids get confused. The HY Worker Petra Radova patiently, willingly and gladly explains the basic differences.
The line between teasing and bullying is quite sensitive. Together with Petra, I have had the opportunity to experience three lessons in which the third-graders have the opportunity to see more clearly where they are already at risk of being bullied and how to deal with this risk. The children also have the opportunity to reflect on how they feel and experience relationships in their classroom.
Petra herself explains and teaches very little. The program lasts three hours so that the children have enough time to common experiences. In addition, they have the space to express themselves how they feel things should be.
The very beginning of the program is an interesting moment: the HY Worker and a volunteer spread out several meters of adhesive paper tape and explains the rules of the game to the children. It’s a real challenge!
The children have only three markers available and within five minutes they each have to tear off a piece of tape and write their first name on it. Obviously, the children have to work well together. In order everything is managed within five minutes, they have to do without arguing and pushing. If they failed or if someone tore off too big piece of the adhesive paper tape and nothing was left to others, everything would have to be repeated.
But children in this class mastered it splendidly. In four minutes! It was obvious that they understood that their collective efforts had given them something.
There are several similar games in the program. Petra always firstly explains the rules and makes sure everyone really understands, and then they go “in action”. When tension arises or when there is a risk of conflict, Petra sensitively leads the children to cooperate with each other. Simply in order to keep fun without experiencing any maltreatment.
The children in this class worked very well together. Though they were restless, they could listen to their kind, if sometimes strict, HY Worker. They also succeeded also in other team games, which intentionally were not easy. They won together, and that is certainly a nice experience. At the same time, during each of the games, they realized what pitfalls and risks of the conflict they had to overcome.
There is no doubt that the “Fun or Hurting” program alone will now eliminate the threat
of bullying. But it allows children to experience, in a friendly environment, how to avoid, recognize and overcome the risks of hurting.
Petr Horacek, the Executive Director of INCZ