Am I bullying?

Animation of a child on a bicycle pointing and yelling at another child standing nearby.

When your choices hurt others

Sometimes we make choices that hurt other people. This might include hitting, teasing, leaving someone out or saying mean and hurtful words. This is not okay. There are things you can do to make kinder choices for yourself and others.

A child sitting on steps with a dog standing nearby looking at the child.

Understanding bullying

Ask yourself:

Have I hurt someone with my words or actions?
Has it happened more than once?
Did I mean to hurt or upset them?

If the answer is yes, it might be bullying, and it is time to make a change.

Illustrated classroom scene with three children seated at desks. One child rests their head on a hand with eyes closed and is feeling sad. A wall map and a clock are visible in the background.

Things that can lead to bullying

Sometimes kids hurt others because they feel angry, left out or upset. With support and practice, you can learn ways to share your feelings and make kinder and safer choices.

Two girls chatting while holding a basketball.

Why kind choices matter

Everyone deserves to feel safe at home, at school and online. Kind choices help you build stronger friendships, feel happier and make things safer for everyone.

Learning from mistakes

Everyone makes mistakes. It takes courage to notice when choices have hurt someone, say sorry if you can and learn to make kinder choices.

A child using a laptop with a thought bubble that says, “Is this OK to send?”.

Stop and think!

Before you say or do something, ask yourself:

Is it kind?
Is it helpful?
How might it make someone feel?

Practicing small kind choices can make a big difference.

Illustration of a person walking through puddles under rain clouds, with darker storm clouds on one side.

Big feelings and kind choices

If you are feeling angry, frustrated or left out, you can:

Take a moment before you act
Take a deep breath
Walk away
Count to 10
Say to yourself “my body is calm”
Draw or write how you are feeling
Talk to an adult you trust.

These skills can help make kind choices in tough moments.

Illustrated portraits of several people with the words “My supports” displayed below.

Asking for help and support

Everyone has a role to play when it comes to bullying. Adults can help everyone involved, including the person doing the bullying. You can talk to a parent, carer, teacher or Kids Helpline counsellor.

They can help you understand your feelings, learn new skills and make kinder choices. You are not alone.

Reminder: It’s never too late to ask for help or make kind choices.

If you need help getting started, talk to Kids Helpline, any time for any reason.