Belonging: Daily messages for Primary
The following daily messages were developed for Bullying No Way week 2024. They can be used as part of ongoing bullying prevention in primary school classrooms.
Daily messages like these can be used to help build a positive culture of belonging in our schools enhancing this important protective factor against bullying.
Share these messages with your students with each day for a week as a way to open thoughtful consideration about belonging and respect and how important they are to feeling safe and supported at school.
Day 1: Challenge stereotypes
Challenge stereotypes
[Upbeat thoughtful music plays while camera pans across group of students aged approximately 9-16 years as they talk and look like they are thinking]
[Student uses a recording clapperboard]
[Text reading “Challenge stereotypes” appears on screen before camera returns to group of youth. They take turns sharing their thoughts on what stereotypes are, speaking one after the other]
What is a stereotype?
What is a stereotype? I'm actually not too sure.
A stereotype is when you judge someone based on their looks the first time you meet them. It's like judging a book by its cover, never judge a book by its cover.
It's a label. Judging people by what they look like, where they live, or where they come from.
What good things happen when we challenge stereotypes?
You learn new things about people.
Everyone feels accepted.
Big changes happen.
Challenging stereotypes helps us all belong.
There’s less chance of being judged.
What’s on the outside isn’t everything about a person, you need to get to know what’s on the inside too.
We need to remember that everyone is different, and that’s okay.
[Students all agree with each other]
Yeah, yeah, yes.
It would be really boring if everyone was the same.
[The group shouts at the same time]
This is belonging.
[Upbeat thoughtful music outro]
This week as part of a focus on bullying and how we can stop it happening, we’re focusing on the importance of belonging. When you feel you belong, you also feel safe and respected.
Today, we're thinking about something called ‘stereotypes’. That's when we might think certain things about people just because they look a certain way, live in a particular place or are part of a specific group. Like thinking all boys are good at sports, or all girls like the colour pink, or no-one likes maths or spelling!
Do you ever think things like that?
When we think of people like this, it can affect the way we treat them. It’s important to understand that everyone is different and special in their own way. Not being the same as everyone else all the time is not just okay, it’s a good thing!
We can help make our school a better place by remembering that people can come from different places, like different things and think about things in different ways from one another. Let's treat each other with respect and kindness.
What else could you do to make sure nobody feels left out? Even small things you do can make a big difference in making our school an even better place for everyone.
Day 2: Promote empathy
Promote empathy
[Upbeat thoughtful music plays while group of students aged approximately 9 to 16 high-five and gather together]
[Text appears on screen reading “Promote empathy”]
[Student reads question from phone which appears on screen as a text message. Camera pans between students as they share ideas between them]
What does empathy mean?
Empathy means understanding and supporting someone,
checking in with somebody, showing you care about them.
It's being in someone else's shoes, knowing how they feel.
It helps people feel connected.
Yeah, like they’re part of something.
It makes your friendships stronger.
Being passionate and kind.
Treating people how you would like to be treated.
What good things can happen when we show empathy?
When someone shows empathy, we feel less alone.
It makes bad times feel not as bad.
When we have empathy, bullying has no effect, because you wouldn’t want to feel that way.
[Students agree out loud together]
Yeah
When you show people empathy, they feel loved and supported,
and that they belong.
[Students all shout together]
This is belonging
[Upbeat thoughtful music]
This week as we think about bullying and how we can stop it happening, we’re focusing on the importance of belonging.
Today, we're talking about empathy. That's when we try to understand how someone else is feeling, and show them kindness and that we care.
Do you ever imagine how someone else might be feeling? When we try this, it can help us to be nicer to each other. For example, if you think someone is feeling sad because they didn't do well on a test or aren’t good at playing a game, you can help cheer them up by saying something nice about them.
What else could you do to show more kindness and help people feel like they’re not alone? Even small things you do can make a big difference in making our school an even better place for everyone.
Day 3: Embrace diversity
Embrace diversity
[Upbeat music plays while students gather together greeting one another, talking and using a filming clapperboard]
[Text appears on screen reading “Embrace diversity” before transitioning back to the students. The camera pans between them as they discuss the topic, jumping in with ideas one after the other]
What does diversity mean?
Diversity means having lots of different people, ideas and backgrounds all mixed together.
Everyone’s different and no one is exactly the same.
Everybody brings something unique.
It’s like a big melting pot where everyone brings something different to the table.
How can we embrace diversity?
Ask questions about other people’s diversities.
Stand up for fairness.
Make new friends.
We can make everybody feel safe, welcomed and accepted.
What good things can happen when we embrace diversity?
We all learn from each other.
Yeah, we’re stronger together.
[Students agree together, they nod heads, smile and high-five]
Yeah, yeah!
When we embrace diversity, everyone belongs.
There are lots of different ideas and ways of thinking.
When we embrace diversity, the world’s a better place.
[Students shout together]
This is belonging!
[Upbeat music plays for outro]
Today we are talking about the importance of celebrating diversity within our school. In our school, being different isn't just okay, it's what makes us special. We all have different backgrounds, interests, and things that make us unique.
It's like having a big box of crayons with all sorts of colours - each one is important and makes the picture more beautiful. When we all work together and appreciate each other's differences, our school becomes a really cool and safe place where everyone feels like they belong.
How can you let someone know you think their differences are great, and what can others do to make you feel really happy about being you?
Day 4: Foster positive relationships
Foster positive relationships
[Upbeat thoughtful music plays as group of students aged approximately 9-16 years walk onto the set. They get comfortable as they laugh and talk together]
[Text appears on screen reading “Foster positive relationships”]
[Student reads from phone as a text bubble appears on screen]
What is a positive relationship?
[Camera pans quickly between students as they share ideas]
Friendship, where you've got your mate’s back.
It’s when you have a really strong bond and you cheer each other on.
When you can talk to someone about anything,
and make sure they feel like they belong.
How can we create a positive relationship?
Always choose to be kind and help out.
It’s about listening to each other,
being committed to kindness,
and sharing your feelings.
[Student reads from phone]
What good things happen when we have positive relationships?
[Youth take turns answering question]
You can make mistakes and not feel bad about them.
You get to know someone deeply.
You just always know you’ve got that person there the whole time.
You feel more confident about yourself.
[Group agrees together]
Yeah.
With a positive relationship, there’s no place for bullying.
[Group shout together]
This is belonging!
[Upbeat musical outro]
This week as we think about bullying and how we can stop it happening, we’re focusing on the importance of belonging.
When we all feel like we belong, bullying has no place.
Today we are thinking about positive relationships. Making good friends isn't just about having lots of them. It's about having mates who really understand you and make you feel happy. That means being there for each other when things are awesome or tough, and cheering each other on. It's about being kind and listening, even if we don't always agree. When we're good friends, our school becomes a wonderful place where everyone feels safe and accepted.
What can you do to be a good friend and make your friendships even stronger?
Day 5: Provide support
Provide support
[Upbeat htoughful music plays. A group of youth aged approximately 9-16 years are gathered together, laughing, talking and clapping]
[Student reads from phone, as message appears on screen]
What does support mean?
Support means having each other’s back — a safety net that’s going to catch you.
You’ve got someone there to guide you and help you.
It’s also about helping others.
Yeah, yeah!
[Student reads from phone]
What does support look like in schools?
[Others answer question]
It could be a guidance counsellor or a fun group.
I’d probably speak to a teacher who I think would understand.
You can speak to your parents.
There’s also Kids Helpline.
It’s about focusing on students’ mental health.
What good things happen when we have support?
You can do anything you put your mind to.
There’s no way you’ll fall down.
You know that you’re not alone — and no matter what path you take,
someone will always be there to support you.
[Students shout together]
This is belonging!
[Music plays for outro]
This week as we think about bullying and how we can stop it happening, we’re focusing on what it means to belong. We can help people feel like they belong by challenging stereotypes, teaching empathy, embracing diversity and having positive relationships. All of these great things can help stop bullying.
If bullying does happen it’s okay to ask for help. You can talk to a grown-up you trust, like a teacher, counsellor, or someone else at school who helps out. In our school, you can tell someone about bullying by <insert your school’s specific reporting here e.g. by telling a teacher or our wellbeing officer>.