TEASING VS BULLYING Boys Friendship Game Beyond the Banter Peer Pressure SEL

Is it just banter or has it crossed the line? Beyond the Banter is our boys’ friendship and bullying game for grades 4-8 that helps boys tell the difference between friendly teasing and bullying, handle rivalry and falling out, push back on peer pressure and set boundaries in gaming and group chats. If you’re looking for bullying prevention activities, a teasing vs. bullying lesson, boys’ friendship activities or a peer pressure game for small group counseling, this one covers it all with zero prep.

Boys often brush things off with “relax, it’s just a joke,” even when someone is clearly hurting. In this interactive PowerPoint counseling game, teams work through situations they see every day: friends who keep going after someone says stop, mocking the losing team, blaming a teammate after a loss, being told to pick sides and being asked to lie for a friend. Every answer comes with a teaching point, so the conversation stays on track. It’s a great fit for boys’ groups, lunch bunch, SEL lessons and bullying prevention, and it pairs well with The Locker Room Effect.

HOW IT WORKS

Split your group into teams. Teams take turns picking a question on the game board, talk it over and answer out loud. Click “Check Answer” to show the answer and teaching point, then award points on the built-in scoreboard. The team with the most points wins.

GAME FEATURES

• 25 questions across 5 categories: Banter or Bullying?, Rivalry & Fall Out, Loyalty & Pressure, Gaming & Group Chats, and Respect & Boundaries
• Play with 2 to 10 teams
• Built-in scoreboard with sound effects
• Used questions disappear from the board
• Reset button so you can play again with your next group

WHY COUNSELORS & TEACHERS USE IT

• No prep: open it and play
• Boys open up because they’re talking about the situation, not about themselves
• Practices respect, good sportsmanship, honest apologies and being an upstander
• Leads easily into deeper conversations about loyalty, friendship and what respect looks like

WHAT’S INCLUDED

• Beyond the Banter interactive PowerPoint game
• Terms of Use

IMPORTANT TECH NOTE

This game needs the desktop version of Microsoft PowerPoint. When you open the file, click “Enable Content” so the buttons and scoreboard work. It won’t work in Google Slides, Keynote or PowerPoint online.

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