- Definition
Bullying is when a student repeatedly acts aggressively towards another student, knowing or should know it will cause harm, fear, or distress, or create a negative school environment. This often happens when there's a power difference between the students, like one being bigger, older, or having more friends.
If a child keeps knocking another child's blocks down every day at playtime, that's bullying.
How to teach this in 30 seconds
Try this analogy: Bullying is like when a bigger kid on the playground keeps taking someone's ball on purpose, again and again, just to be mean.
Ask your child: What's the difference between an accident and someone being mean on purpose?
Common mix-up: Kids often think any single mean moment is bullying. Bullying is different because it's repeated, done on purpose, and makes someone feel powerless.
Examples
- Repeatedly calling someone a mean name on the bus.
- Telling other kids not to play with someone at recess every day.
bullying is a term used in Ontario’s Kindergarten to Grade 8 curriculum.
Where this shows up
- Grade 5 The Arts
- Grade 6 The Arts
- Grade 8 The Arts
- Grade 1 Health and Physical Education
- Grade 3 Health and Physical Education
- Grade 4 Health and Physical Education
- Grade 5 Health and Physical Education
+6 more mentions across the curriculum
The descriptions on this page are SmartStudy’s own original, plain-language writing — not the Ministry’s wording. They are aligned to the Ontario Curriculum, © King’s Printer for Ontario. For the Ministry’s official wording, see the source link below. SmartStudy is an independent service and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by the Government of Ontario or the Ministry of Education. Ontario Curriculum and Resources ↗
