kids

Toddlers were asked "Why is it not okay to tease your friends?" They responded perfectly.

Every time my son goes to day care I get an email, “the daybook”, that updates me on what he has done during the day.

Charlie, two, makes paper planes and he’s working his way through the alphabet with letter days – C was a particular highlight.

We had a lot to talk about on the way home – crocodiles and chocolate.

He knows what chocolate is. Image supplied.

I often zoom-in on my kid in the daybook's photos and I love it when he gets a mention but yesterday the whole class melted my heart.

I was emailed a transcribed class chat with the group of two to five-year-olds that shows even toddlers understand bullying.

It was sparked by Sophie* - who was feeling sad because her friends had been teasing her.

Here it the discussion, as documented by his educators.

*Names have been changed - except my Charlie.

What is teasing?

Aaron: "When you are mean to friends."

Is it ok to tease friends?

Jake: "No it's a bad thing."

Why is it not ok to tease your friends?

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Charlotte: "Because your friends feel sad."

Lily: "They can get sad."

Sophie: "Because when you tease someone they can get sad."

Harrison: "Because the friends might not want to play with you anymore."

Anna: "Friends can cry."

Charlie: "I get sad."

What can we do to stop teasing?

Laura: "We just have to play together and make everyone happy."

Felicity: "When friends say 'stop it I don't like it' we have to stop."

Charlotte: "Maybe we can say sorry."

Sophie:  "We have to listen to your friend."

Sam: "Make your friend happy."

Last night, during dinner I asked my son if he knew what teasing and bullying meant and he said: "It means, I get sad."

Two minutes later he was saying "Megatron must be stopped" but I think we're off to a good start.

Podcast: Jenson Harrison is Australia’s youngest snake catcher.