BLOEMFONTEIN -After Scratch the hedgehog taught children not to be scared and the bunnies Hip and Hop taught more about attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), two piglets have come out to play. And they did not play nice.
The psychologists Esté Pistorius and Jaco van der Merwe who started guiding parents and teachers on mental health issues in children with their Mentanimals series, launched the third book in the series.
Bacon and Banger: The Bullies is meant to create awareness of bully behaviour and to help children manage such situations better.
Esté says the book helps parents and teachers identify behaviour that points to a child being bullied and to help these children acquire skills to stand up for themselves.
“Bullying is not only a big problem in schools, it affects victims later in life. Bullying is also not confined to real life situations, but is also a huge issue on social media,” she says.
She explains negative behaviour towards someone that is repetitive, can be labled bullying. If the intention is to hurt, it is bullying.
Jaco says it is often people that are hurt, who also hurt others.
“We have to strengthen good behaviour and teach children to have more empathy towards others.”
In the book, a Kindness Champion is crowned every day as a way to enforce empathy.
Bacon and Banger: The Bullies gives practical advice to parents and teachers.
Appart from the books in the series, there is a variety of Mentanimals toys and memorabelia to remind children of the valuable lessons taught in the books.
Get more information on the books on the Mentanimals Facebook page.
