Bullies appear in many classic fairy tales. We all know the story of Snow White and her wicked stepmother and Cinderella and her cruel and jealous step-family. In both of these stories the main characters were victims of bullying.
Many popular fairy tale classics talk about bullying. Classic books have a truly defining characteristic in that their message stands the test of time. A great classic has a message that spans the ages to be passed from generation to generation. One such tale is “The Three Little Pigs”. They have a real bully situation on their hands in this story. They take the stance to stand tall and send the message: "Don't mess with me."
Unfortunately bullies also appear in modern life. Bullying is a big problem that affects lots of kids. From name calling, to affecting reputations and relationships, or even physically hurting someone or their possessions. It can happen anywhere, and to anyone.
I like the modern take that a 5 year old shares in her story, “The Peanut Butter and Jelly Hotdog”. It was a finalist in my annual writing contest for kids. It looks at the subject in such a wise a clever way and has some great advice on how to deal with a bully.
We can help kids understand bullying by talking to them about it and teaching them how to stand up to it safely. Here is a resource link for parents and teachers StopBullying.
Here is a classic & modern take on this very important subject playlist.
I also have a picture book called, "Wanda's Wart", that deals with subject. It's a great discussion opener for the topic of bullying. You can read all about it here at this blog post.
I also love this quote and think it goes well with this topic, so wanted to share it.
“It is our choices ... that show what we truly are, far more than our abilities.” - J. K. Rowling (Harry Potter and The Chamber of Secrets)
*Updated March 2018: This story “There be Dragons” from Ms Bish’s class in Germantown, MD was a submission in my 9th annual Be-a-Famous Writer Contest. As a strong advocate for anti-bullying, the inclusiveness theme of this story touched me so, that I thought it should have a place on my playlist.
Story Specific Study Questions:
The Three Little Pigs by: The Brothers Grimm
- What are the problems the characters face?
- How do they solve these problems?
- What lesson does this story teach you?
- How would you have handled the big bad wolf?
The Peanut Butter and Jelly Hotdog by Ivy Exum
- Why do bullies act that way? Share your thoughts
- What are things you can do to prevent a run-in with a bully?
- What did they do in this story to stop the bully?
- Have you heard the expression “kill them with kindness”? What does it mean? Does it apply to this story?
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