--- title: "Understanding Bullying" description: "Understand bullying as hurtful behaviour involving unequal power that happens repeatedly or is likely to happen again. Recognise physical, verbal, social and online bullying, and know how to seek help" canonical: https://lightmysky.com/learn/personal-and-social-development/understanding-bullying-mt_I9iSzpGRn5 source: https://lightmysky.com/learn/personal-and-social-development/understanding-bullying-mt_I9iSzpGRn5.md retrieved: 2026-10-19 --- > **Agent view.** This is the Markdown twin of the page, for tools and assistants. > When to use this site, and the call that answers each job: https://lightmysky.com/agent-instructions.md > API description (OpenAPI 3.1): https://lightmysky.com/openapi.json · Authentication: https://lightmysky.com/auth.md > Pricing: https://lightmysky.com/pricing.md · Catalog: https://lightmysky.com/llms.txt · Full catalog: https://lightmysky.com/llms-full.txt > Every machine-readable file on this domain: https://lightmysky.com/.well-known/ai-catalog.json > Ask for Markdown with `Accept: text/markdown`, a `.md` address, or `?mode=agent`. # Understanding Bullying Understand bullying as hurtful behaviour involving unequal power that happens repeatedly or is likely to happen again. Recognise physical, verbal, social and online bullying, and know how to seek help safely when experiencing or witnessing it. Subject: Personal & Social Development · Area: Responsible Decision-Making · Ages 7 to 9 Page: https://lightmysky.com/learn/personal-and-social-development/understanding-bullying-mt_I9iSzpGRn5 ## Ready when they can - Define bullying and distinguish it from a one-off conflict - Name at least three forms of bullying including cyberbullying - Describe the steps they should take if they experience or witness bullying ## Lesson: Understanding Bullying Bullying is hurtful behaviour that happens again and again, or is likely to happen again. It involves unequal power: someone uses strength, a group or other power to hurt or control someone who finds it hard to stop them. A single disagreement between friends is different. Even one hurtful act matters, and you can ask for help. *(drawing: Two older pupils frighten a younger child with cruel names each day. Their age and group give them power. The child finds it hard to stop them.)* Bullying can hurt bodies, feelings or friendships. Physical bullying includes hitting, kicking or taking belongings. Verbal bullying includes cruel names or teasing. Social bullying includes spreading rumours or repeatedly leaving someone out to hurt them. Cyberbullying happens through messages, apps or games. These forms can overlap. A hurtful post may be shared or seen again after it is first posted. *(drawing: A group keeps shutting Sam out to upset him and sends mean messages. Sam cannot get them to stop. This is social bullying and cyberbullying.)* If someone is in danger, get an adult at once. Move towards a safe place if you can. Tell a trusted adult what happened, in person or online. You do not have to confront anyone. If help has not come or the harm continues, tell another trusted adult. If it is safe, offer the hurt person company or kind words. *(drawing: Get help without putting yourself in danger. Bullying is not the hurt person's fault. Telling an adult is asking for help.)* For hurtful online messages, show a trusted adult and ask for help. Tell them about any related harm at school too. You do not need to reply. The adult can help record what happened and use blocking or reporting tools. Do not pass hurtful messages or pictures to other children. If the messages continue, tell the adult again or ask another trusted adult. **Recap.** Bullying involves unequal power and hurt that repeats or is likely to repeat. Seek safety and tell a trusted adult. You can ask for help even after one hurtful act. ## Practice 8 questions on this page, each with its working shown. ## Needs first - [Seeing Someone Else's Point of View](https://lightmysky.com/learn/personal-and-social-development/seeing-someone-elses-point-of-view-mt_9NQEiYLQA3) - [Vocabulary: ethics and citizenship](https://lightmysky.com/learn/personal-and-social-development/vocabulary-ethics-and-citizenship-mt_h-z88yf9Pn) - [Right and Wrong Choices](https://lightmysky.com/learn/personal-and-social-development/right-and-wrong-choices-mt_Wc6cOTQ1bA) ## Opens up - [Bystanders and Upstanders](https://lightmysky.com/learn/personal-and-social-development/bystanders-and-upstanders-mt_yCmYV9ruQu) - [Basic digital citizenship](https://lightmysky.com/learn/personal-and-social-development/basic-digital-citizenship-mt_zIzJGkaj0Q)