Help adults recognise the quieter signs of bullying, especially social exclusion, isolation and being left out, with a clear printable poster that opens up conversations about children who appear fine but may be lonely at school, in clubs, online or within peer groups.
At school meetings, parent conversations or child protection training, the poster can be used to show how bullying is not always direct name-calling, threats or physical aggression. It contrasts a parent saying their child has never been bullied with the child’s daily experience of being excluded, overlooked and alone.
The child’s day is described through four simple statements: nobody sits with me, nobody picks me, nobody messages me and nobody notices me. Those lines make the theme of relational bullying, emotional bullying, peer rejection, social exclusion and social isolation easy to discuss with children, parents, teachers and pastoral staff.
The main message, “Not all bullying is done to a child. Sometimes it is done around them,” is useful for prompting reflection on hidden bullying, friendship issues, playground exclusion, classroom loneliness and the impact of being ignored. It may suit primary and secondary school displays, PSHE lessons, anti-bullying week activities, counselling rooms and family support work.
Parents, carers, social workers, school nurses, SENCOs, learning mentors and therapists could use it as a gentle conversation starter rather than a long worksheet. It may help adults ask more specific questions about lunch times, group work, team choices, phone messages, break times and whether a child feels noticed.
Short wording and a strong visual layout make it suitable for children, kids and younger teenagers who may struggle to explain indirect bullying. Created by Edita Stiborova.
