Can you believe the behaviour of the 'celebrities' on Big Brother? If any of our young children acted that way, they would be whisked off to the naughty step or whatever discipline strategy is in vogue. Of course this thuggish, 'mean girls' bullying only reflects what we know is happening in schools, offices and organisations. Yet it is shocking and unsettling to see it on our television screens with no one intervening.
But is the programme important enough to comment on? Most definitely - because children and some adults watching this drivel might think that 'since it is on the television, it must be an OK way to behave'. In fact, this is exactly the kind of behaviour we do find in playgrounds. Allowing this behaviour to thrive unchecked reinforces the bullying, racist attitudes that some families are instilling in their children.
Too often bullying is ignored or excused and victims' torment goes on. At Kidscape, we hold courses for severely bullied children. Many have thought about suicide because no one stopped the bullying. That is why we take it so seriously.
So, what to do? We can switch channels and/or protest, but we also need to use this opportunity to talk to children about friendship and how to interact with others; to think of and act out ways to be a good friend.
Even very young children can learn how to share and be kind to each other.
We need to instil the idea that no one should stand by while someone is picked on. Very young children can be taught to tell immediately if someone is being targeted. And the very best thing we can do, in the wake of this debacle, is to ensure that every child knows that no one deserves to be or should ever be bullied.
Have a look on our website www.kidscape.org.uk for free leaflets you can download about ideas for preventing bullying.
