Friendships and social skills
What is bullying and how is it different from conflict?
Direct answer
Bullying involves a pattern of harmful behaviour with an imbalance of power. Conflict can involve disagreement between peers without that pattern. Both need attention, but bullying should not be treated as a dispute that the targeted child must solve alone.
What this means in practice
Repeated exclusion, humiliation or intimidation can be harmful even without physical injury. Gather information carefully and follow school procedures. A single serious incident still requires action, even if it does not fit a particular definition of bullying.
Practical next steps
- Listen and record the concern.
- Assess immediate safety.
- Coordinate the school's response.
Illustrative example
If a child is repeatedly excluded and threatened by a more powerful group, simply asking everyone to be friends is insufficient.
What to keep in mind
Do not require the targeted child to confront those involved without a safety plan.
Sources and further reading
The sources inform the explanation. Practical examples are educational illustrations, not individual clinical advice. How these answers are prepared.
Related questions
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How can teachers help children make friends?
Create structured opportunities to work and play together, teach joining-in skills and respond to exclusion. Friendship cannot be assigned, but adults.
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How can adults teach empathy to children?
Help children notice another person's perspective, discuss feelings and practise caring responses. Use real situations, stories and modelling. Empathy.
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What should parents do if their child is being bullied?
Listen calmly, reassure the child that reporting was right and work with the school on a safety-focused plan. Record specific incidents and agree how.
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