Tattling or Telling

Tattling: Getting someone into trouble. Telling: Informing, making known, speaking up.

Do your students understand the difference? Reporting bullying isn’t tattling; it holds the bully accountable for their actions. Bullies often try to intimidate those who report them, calling them “tattletales” to deflect blame. Therefore, it’s crucial to teach students when and how to report bullying while clarifying the distinction between tattling and telling.

Exercise:

• Print the PDF below and facilitate a class discussion highlighting the differences between tattling and telling.

• Children tattle when they want to —
• get someone in trouble
• get attention
• have a teacher or parent solve their problem

• Children are telling when they ––
• want security for themselves or someone else
• want safeguards for theirs or someone else’s property
• are frightened
• are in danger