What to do about bullying?

While looking on google, I came across this video What to do about. . . Bullying! From SEL Sketches (2020). Sel Sketches is a YouTube channel that has posted some educational videos throughout the years. The intend of these video’s is to inform students and teachers about certain subjects. In this case, it was about bullying. Specifically, what to do about bullying. The video gave a great example what a victim of bullying, and witnesses can do to stop bullying. In this blog, I’d like to talk about what was said in the video and give my opinion and reflection on certain points. 

In the beginning of the video, Sel Sketches (2020) explained that bullying can happen to anyone. It’s a good thing they mentioned this in the video, as a lot of people are convinced that bullying only happens to the “weird kids” or “quiet kids”. As well they mentioned that anyone could bully, both girls and boys, and even adults. Something that is often overlooked. The video went on about how bullying can look different. For example, one person can bully multiple people, but a group can bully one person. 

Sel Sketches (2020) emphasizes the fact that bullying is about what a person is doing, and not about how a person is. Just because a bully might be bullying another person, does not make them a bad person. It simply means that we need to give them a chance to change. I think this is a very interesting, but controversial point to make. We often emphasize about how a person that bullies are incredibly bad, rude or mean for doing so, but we shouldn’t focus on that. We should focus on the fact that a person IS bullying someone else. That is the problem. Children often aren’t entirely aware of the consequences an action can have. Especially not when they’re doing something out of insecurities or when they’re trying to make themselves feel better. I think this is often the case with bullies. They have their own problems and try to cope with them by outing their emotions on another person. They put others down to make themselves feel better. With this, I’m not saying that we should accept the bullying behavior, but we should give them a chance to change. 

After this point, the video goes on to explain that there are three roles in a bullying situation: the bully, the victim and the witness/bystander. When bystanders do nothing about a bullying situation, the bullying might get worse because the bully gets an audience and knows that they can get away with bullying. The bystanders can do several things to help a victim. The first thing is to talk with the victim. Ask if you can help and how you can help. Secondly, the bystander can speak up and tell the bully to stop. And thirdly, if the victim and the bully are “friends”, remind the victim that friends don’t hurt each other. I think this is a good point as well. Children are often afraid of speaking up towards their friends, because they’re scared they’ll lose them. But people that hurt you are not friends. The video then explains what a victim can do against bullying. Firstly, the victim should try to get away as fast as possible if they don’t feel safe In the situation. It’s very important to tell an adult about the bullying situation. Explain the where, who, what and when to them. A trusted adult can help the victim. Sel Sketches (2020) explains that children are often scared to tell an adult because they don’t want to tattle. But there’s a big difference between tattling and telling. I think this is an important point to make. Tattling is when you’re trying to get someone IN to trouble. But telling is to keep yourself safe. It’s important that children know the difference between the two. The last thing you can do to prevent bullying is sticking up for yourself if you’re comfortable with it. Tell the person who is bullying you to stop. 

After Sel Sketches (2020) explained what to do when you’re getting bullied, they also explained what NOT to do when you’re being bullied. It’s important that the victim does not ignore the problem. Bullying is a serious issue and will often not resolve by itself. Furthermore, it was said that the victim should not bully back. This will not resolve the problem. If something that has been done to you hurts, you shouldn’t be doing it back. As well as getting physical and threaten or call the person names. I strongly agree with this. You don’t fight violence with violence. When fights broke out at my internship school and I tried to get the students to stop, they often used the excuse “Well my parents told me to hit back when someone is hitting me first”. I’m personally not a fan of this saying. Although I do agree that you should fight back, but only when it’s your last option. It’s much better to get help and talk things out, than making things worse by using violence. 

The video ends with providing both students and teachers with links to additional information about what to do about bullying and how bullying works. 

I think this video showed a great, short, but clear explanation of what students can do against bullying. The video made some good points about bullying and the bully. It was great to see that Sel Sketches (2020) talked about what the victims can do, but what the bystanders can do as well. It’s a very educational video about bullying, something I would definitely show in my internship class. 

 

 

Bibliography

• SEL Sketches. (2020, September 7). What to do about. . . Bullying! - SEL Sketches [Video]. YouTube. Retrieved May 6, 2025, from
  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5l6mDwanphM