The researchers have displayed that peer bullying may cause some psychological problems, and it may even trigger suicidal ideation. Peer bullying is a widespread and serious problem children may encounter at school. The writers of realistic novels for children may give some messages or imply some strategies for the children who face the problems in real life similar to the ones narrated in these novels so that they may overcome their problems. In realistic novels for children, usually the problems which the child may come across in his/her everyday life are dealt with. Approaches to more meaningful and effective planning and implementing activities for bullying education in the early childhood classroom are discussed.Ĭhildren's novels may roughly be classified as fantasies and realistic. The children also showed various ways of solving problems/issues and practised getting along with other children. Specifically, the letter-writing activities after reading and discussing bully-themed stories enhanced their understanding of bullying and helped them empathize with the characters. The findings show that the approach used in this study helped children clearly understand and recognize bullying. The children were involved in a large group reading about bullying and follow-up letter-writing activities led by their teacher. Drawing from social-constructivist theory, this study was conducted in a classroom of 20 5-year-old children in a metropolitan city in Korea using a qualitative study approach. This study explores how young children respond to bully-themed stories, what and how they expressed in writing letters to characters from the stories, and how their attitudes towards and understanding of bullying have changed through a series of reading, discussing and writing about bullying. In spite of increasing international concern and the long-term effects of bullying on children's development, bullying in early childhood has been overlooked and underestimated, with both children and adults having difficulties in recognizing and understanding it.

Lucy and the Bully by Claire Alexander