“I See You” A New Way to Talk About Bullying in Early Education.

It often begins with a small moment. A quiet child during morning roll call. Muffled laughter not shared by everyone. A drawing crumpled in a cubby.

Then later, “She told me I couldn’t sit next to her” or “They said my drawing was silly.”

As educators, we recognise these moments. But sometimes the pain behind them is harder to see.

We know the instinct is to intervene quickly. But what if we also paused to gently wonder, what feeling might be hiding underneath this behaviour? What story is this child believing about themselves in response?

💭 What’s really going on when a child acts unkind?

In our new release, I See You – The Secret Feelings Behind Bullying, we offer a tool to support children without needing others to change their behaviour.

The book doesn’t label children as “bullies” or “victims.” Instead, it invites all learners to look deeper. What could be going on inside someone who is unkind? Fear? Confusion? Sadness? A need to feel powerful?

By normalising this reflection in the classroom, we shift the dialogue. From blame to understanding. From shame to safety. From power-over to compassion-in-action.

🧠 Building classroom cultures of emotional safety

This approach complements the Early Years Learning Framework (v2.0) and Health & Physical Education curriculum by helping children

• Identify and name their own emotions

• Understand how behaviour can be a message

• Practise respectful communication

• Ask for help from trusted adults

• Set boundaries that honour their dignity

The book’s real-life photography, paired with reflective language, makes it accessible to children across developmental stages. It also aligns with initiatives like Bullying. No Way! and Kids Helpline Schools Program, reinforcing Australia’s commitment to whole-child wellbeing.

👩‍🏫 How can teachers use this book?

I See You is ideal for:

• Mat time or morning meetings

• Wellbeing or SEL blocks

• Conflict resolution circles

• Follow-up to incidents involving exclusion or unkindness

Each spread is accompanied by reflective questions like, “what feeling might this child be holding inside?” “What could you do if you felt this way?” “What would you want someone to do for you?”

These prompts encourage personal and social capability, empowering children to take mindful action without carrying others’ pain.

👪 Involving parents with care

Parents, too, often ask “What do I say when my child comes home hurt?” “How do I explain why someone was mean?”

This book provides a gentle bridge. It helps parents reflect alongside their children and offers schools a shared language for communication between home and classroom.

🌱 Bullying Awareness Week is a time to reframe the story

Bullying isn’t just about actions—it’s about emotions left unexpressed. By helping children name those emotions, we offer them a way out of reactive behaviour and into relational

wisdom.

I See You helps us begin there. With seeing. With empathy. With space to grow.

🌿 New Educator Resource Included

This subject is so important that we have created a free 8-Day Reflective Practice Program available exclusively with the I See You book. Designed for early childhood and primary educators, this gentle yet powerful self-directed professional development course explores the emotional roots of bullying, using the book as a springboard for classroom reflection, regulation strategies, and compassionate culture-building.

Each day includes:

• A thematic insight aligned with the book

• Reflective journal prompts

• Simple classroom practices

• Curriculum-linked activities

This is more than a book—it’s a whole-hearted teaching tool. You will receive access to this resource with your book purchase via our website from the 13th August.

View or order the book for your classroom →

A sample image from our new bullying book.