We all need to belong

A couple of posts ago I mentioned research that suggested children could be at increased risk of being bullied if:
- they received extra help at school
- they were alone on the playground
- they had less than two good friends

In my last post I wrote two scenarios drawn from past experiences of students. The idea of these stories is that the best way to ensure that children get the best social outcomes from inclusion is to be very careful about how we include them in our classrooms and on the playground.

The social benefits are often one reason why parents and children choose inclusion. But to ensure the child gets these benefits, we need to make sure we think about what inclusion truly is… and do the best we can with the resources we have got to make it happen.

For example, according to Gee (2002), this is the difference between inclusion, integration and mainstreaming.

We all need to belong. Belonging is a great way to build resilience.

Someone who belongs, and is different, is much less likely to be bullied as their difference is likely to be less visible to those who truly know them as a person.

Because everyone is unique.