Stressball Sally and Friends: Bullying

Poor Sally! The mean girls at school are making fun of her hair and clothing again, as well as refusing to let her play kickball and tormenting her in the lunchroom. Sally is visibly upset (she literally turns into a bouncing ball of stress), but what can she do? Presenting practical solutions to handling emotional stress caused by peer harassment, Bullying is the first episode in an animated series designed to address a variety of topics that cause stress in kids. First, Sally goes to school counselor Mrs. D'Frazzle, who congratulates Sally for facing her situation and getting help, after which Sally and friends learn how to deal with physical symptoms of stress through physical and mental relaxation techniques, including “belly breathing” exercises and focusing on happy thoughts or fun activities. With these tips under her belt, Sally is able to ignore her antagonists and therefore defuse future situations in a positive way. Too simplistic to be a comprehensive guide for handling bullies, this program is nevertheless good for teaching active stress reduction strategies to children, and also includes a Spanish language track and a “counselor's advice” section for adults. Recommended, overall. Aud: E, I, P. (E. Gieschen)