As an educator, the toughest part of the job is hearing (or seeing) that students are struggling to get along with their peers.
Unfortunately, various degrees of bullying can take place within the school ecosystem and finding the right strategies to deal with it isn’t always the easiest task. According to statistics on bullying from 2019, it was reported that one out of every three students are bullied.
Benefits of bringing anti-bullying activities into the classroom
When it comes to finding ways to prevent bullying, what it comes down to is fostering a warm and welcoming classroom environment, and cultivating a classroom culture that focuses on teaching students the value in being more empathetic towards others.
The best anti-bullying activities are valuable personal development tools that can show students the importance of treating others with respect and compassion, along with how to communicate their feelings more effectively.
Looking for a couple fun anti-bullying activities to play with your students? Here are the 3 best games to prevent bullying at school!
1. The Happy Jar
How to play
Before playing this activity with your students, you’ll need to grab a jar and some scrap paper. Cut the paper into small rectangles and write each student’s name onto each rectangle. Fold the paper in half to hide the names and toss all the folded pieces of paper into the jar.
Each student takes turns drawing a name out of the jar. Give them a couple minutes to write down something nice about that person on the same piece of paper. Steer your students in the right direction by giving them a specific question or topic to work with. For instance, you could tell them to write down what they like the most about that person or even what they think is their best quality.
Get everyone to toss the papers back into the jar. Then you have the option of either reading them out loud in front of the entire class or just handing them back to the right person. Keep in mind that the entire process should remain anonymous!
How does this game prevent bullying at school?
This is the ultimate feel-good activity to bring into the classroom. The best part is that setting up this game really doesn’t require much effort.
Getting everyone to participate in this activity is one of the easiest ways to bring some positive vibes into the classroom while giving students a boost in confidence. Since each and every person receives a compliment from one of their classmates, this game can help mitigate feelings of isolation in the students who have trouble fitting in with their peers.
Students get the unique opportunity to bond with their classmates over a shared positive experience, which supports your goal in fostering a warm and welcoming classroom environment.
2. Totem
How to play
Players take turns building an animal totem for their peers out of a quality card and a strength card. The cards they choose represent what they admire the most about a given person and what they perceive to be their greatest strength.
Players then provide explanations for why they chose those specific cards to construct their classmate’s animal totem.
How does this game prevent bullying at school?
Totem is the ultimate feel-good game. It’s suitable for players ages 8 and over, which means that it appeals to kids and teens. The best part about this fun card game is that it really doesn’t take up any more space than a deck of cards.
By coming together to reflect on one another’s best qualities and strengths, students are given the opportunity to establish deeper connections with their peers. Playing Totem with your students can teach them how to communicate their feelings more effectively, and they get the chance to partake in a meaningful discussion that shows them the value in being open and honest. Students also experience firsthand how their words or behavior can affect others, making them more aware of how to treat others with more respect and compassion in the future.
Another reason to play Totem? It works wonders for building self-esteem in kids and teens. By hearing their classmates say what they love the most about them, students benefit from feeling a stronger sense of belonging at school.
Find out how Totem can help you in your school environment :
USING TOTEM IN A UNIVERSITY SETTING - A TESTIMONIAL BY ANNE-RYSLÈNE ZAOUAL
3. Fan of compliments
How to play
Get your students to sit in a circle. Give each student a sheet of blank paper. Each person then folds down the top section of their piece of paper by about an inch or so and writes their name over it.
Get everyone to pass their fan over to the person sitting next to them and give them a couple minutes to write down something positive about the owner of the fan.
Students make another fold to conceal their comment – the goal here is to end up with a fan full of compliments. Repeat this step until the fans make their way back to their owners.
How does this game prevent bullying at school?
When it comes to finding ways to prevent bullying at school, feel-good games are the real MVP.
Receiving a fan full of compliments from classmates can truly work wonders in providing students with a stronger sense of belonging – this can be especially meaningful for the kids that have trouble fitting in. This fun activity can help students overcome their personal challenges by effectively building their self-esteem and giving them a boost of confidence.
