Sue's Imaginarium

Have you ever been laughed at and wondered, "Is this just a joke, or is this bullying?" Sometimes it can be hard to tell. Friends often tease each other and laugh together. But sometimes, words and actions that start as "just a joke" can hurt. Learning the difference will help you know when to laugh along, when to speak up, and when to ask an adult for help. What Is Teasing? Teasing is when someone makes a playful joke about you. Friendly teasing happens between people who like each other, and everyone is laughing, including you . Here are some examples of friendly teasing: Your friend says, "You and your mangoes! You'd eat ten a day if you could!" and you both laugh because it's true. Your brother jokes that you sing in the shower louder than a cockerel, and you laugh and sing even louder. Your friend calls you "Captain Late" because you're always the last one to line up, and you think it's funny. Friendly teasing is gentle. ...

Kojo's phone buzzed three times before he had even finished his jollof. "Kojo, no phones at the table," said Mum. "Sorry, Mum." He turned it face down, but he was already curious. Nobody ever messaged him this much. After dinner, he hurried to his room and checked. He had been added to a new WhatsApp group: Class 6 Legends 😎 . Kojo grinned. Everyone in his class had been talking about this group for weeks, and now he was in it. He scrolled up. There were jokes about football, a funny video of a goat on a school bus, and lots of laughing emojis. Kojo sent a thumbs up. It felt good to belong. Then another message popped up. It was from Nii. It was a photo of Selasi from their class, taken during assembly that morning. Selasi had been reading the Bible passage when his voice suddenly cracked. It went high and squeaky right in the middle of a word. A few children had giggled, and Selasi's ears had turned red. Now someone had turned the photo into a sticker. Sel...

 Growing up means facing situations that nobody can completely prepare you for. Sometimes your friends may leave you out. You might make a mistake and be frightened to admit it. Someone may ask you to keep a secret that makes you uncomfortable. You might fail an exam, lose something you borrowed, receive a strange message online, or find yourself being pressured to do something you know is wrong. When these things happen, it is easy to panic, stay quiet, follow everyone else, or make a decision you later regret. That is why knowing what to do before the situation happens is so important. Welcome to Sue's Imaginarium's “What Do I Do If…?” guide —practical answers to some of the situations children and teenagers may face at school, at home, with friends and online. 1. What do I do if my friends leave me out? Being excluded hurts, especially when the people leaving you out are people you consider your friends. Before assuming the worst, find out what happened. Sometimes there may...