Fun with Character: Sticks and Stones

Most children are familiar with the phrase, “Sticks and Stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me.” Anyone who has been the target of a bully knows this to be anything but true. Teach your class a different ending to this phrase: “Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words can break my heart.” Ask the students if they have ever had a broken bone, and ask them to share how long it took for their bones to heal. (Be prepared for some long answers.) Ask them how long it takes a broken heart to heal – some will say a lot longer than bones, and you may even get someone to say ‘never.’ Explain that hearts need kindness to heal, not just time. When we are rude to our classmates by calling them names or not letting them sit by us, we hurt their hearts. We need to practice respect and kindness to help heal their hearts.