Moving beyond books, this guide also includes some additional resources to help you relax and test your friendship and empathy skills, as well as some websites that will help you if you are struggling with a difficult situation or how you are feeling.
Bully Busters (2023)
By Winspiration Kids
An online interactive text game with multiple story options to explore, Bully Busters will put your skills to the test as you make decisions on what to do if you’re being bullied. This game will help you to think about how types of situations would make you and other people feel, understand why people bully others, explore different responses from ignoring the situation to telling the teacher, and help you to understand different types of bulling by explaining the differences and similarities between physical, social, verbal, and cyber-bullying.
Bibliographic Details:
Winspiration Kids. (2023). Bully Busters [Web browser]. Itch.io. https://winspirationkids.itch.io/bully-busters
Thomas Was Alone (2012)
Developed by Bithell Games
In the video game Thomas Was Alone you’ll need to guide a group of rectangles through a series of obstacles in order to escape different environments. You’ll need to think about each rectangle and their unique skills, and which are best suited to solving the puzzle, using their different skills together to get to the end of each environment. With colourful visuals, great music, and humorous narration you will improve your decision making and problem-solving skills but also learn more about friendship, teamwork, trust, and valuing others.
Watch the trailer below:
Explore the game at: https://store.steampowered.com/app/220780/Thomas_Was_Alone/
Bibliographic Details:
Bithell Games. (2012). Thomas Was Alone [Windows; Mac; Playstation; Xbox; Android; iOS]. Bithell Games.
Inside Out (2015)
Keeping with our theme of friendship and feelings, we’ve included an emotional movie all about emotions. Inside Out will not only help you to understand how your emotions make you feel, but also understand that while you may want to feel good and happy all the time your other emotions are just as important to help you learn and grow as you experience new things. The film has a great message about understanding different perspectives, respecting others and their unique skills, how to ask for help, and that things change and may not last forever including friendships, and that’s ok.
Watch the trailer below:
Bibliographic Details:
Doctor, P. (Director). (2015). Inside Out [Film]. Walt Disney Pictures; Pixar Animation Studios.
It’s Ok to Ask (2022)
Hosted by Nina Purewal
A podcast that tells us that its ok to have questions and its ok to ask. Each of the 10 episodes are under 10 minutes, so they’re easy to listen to and provide useful advice to answer the question sent in by kids. The questions range from dealing with friendship imbalances, to recognizing real and fake friends, to handling rejection, and even apologizing; and will help you consider how you would handle these situations and building your decision-making skills.
Listen to the first episode here:
Check out the podcast and the other episodes at: https://akidsco.com/pages/its-ok-to-ask
Bibliographic Details:
Purewal, N. (Host). (2022). It’s Ok to Ask [Audio podcast]. A Kids Co. https://akidsco.com/pages/its-ok-to-ask
Kids Helpline
Kids Helpline provides confidential 24/7 online and phone counselling services for children and young adults so no matter when or where you are you can get help. This link will take you to a page with resources aimed at kids aged 5-12 helping you to identify how you’re feeling and choose the main cause for this emotion such as friendship, bullies, or school and then gives you some articles with advice for how to manage and overcome this issue. It’s also a great resource if you want to know more about the topics addressed in this reading guide.
Check out the resources provided by Kids Helpline at: https://kidshelpline.com.au/kids
Bibliographic Details:
Kids Helpline. (2019). Kids [Website]. https://kidshelpline.com.au/kids.
Image Sources:
Steam. (n.d.). Thomas Was Alone Header. Steam. https://cdn.akamai.steamstatic.com/steam/apps/220780/capsule_616x353.jpg?t=1571520742 (Accessed 14 May 2023)
Kids Helpline (2023). Kids Helpline Webpage [Screenshot]. Kids Helpline. https://kidshelpline.com.au/kids
The Move Database (TMDB). (2015). Inside Out (2015) Movie Poster. TMDB. https://www.themoviedb.org/t/p/w220_and_h330_face/lRHE0vzf3oYJrhbsHXjIkF4Tl5A.jpg
A Kids Co. (2023). It’s Ok to Ask Icon. A Kids Co. https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0039/7282/5134/articles/It_sOKToAsk_ForWeb_1500x.jpg?v=1651080624
