Tip Top has found that more than 50% of Australian parents and caregivers suspect their child has experienced bullying at school, but more concerningly two in five feel ill-equipped to proactively address the topic of bullying with their children at home.   

“We’re proud to be partnering with YOU CAN SIT WITH ME to support the important work they’re doing to foster more connected, kind and inclusive playgrounds across the country,” said Brett Grebert, Tip Top Marketing & Innovation Director. 

Primary school is a pivotal time for forming friendships, building self-esteem, and developing social skills. So, when the prevalence of bullying is so high, educating children on how to foster a culture of inclusion and kindness at school is critical.  

For primary school kids, the large majority will alert their parents proactively to bullying in the playground, while others (30%) rely on their school community to flag – placing even greater onus on these communities to foster transparency and approachability.  

More than half of Aussie parents aren’t sure their child would have the confidence to speak up against bullying in the playground (55%), despite three-quarters believing their children are armed with the right language and tools to manage it. 

With parents largely unsure on how best to broach the subject of bullying and isolation with their children, organisations such as YOU CAN SIT WITH ME play a critical role in providing education and encouragement to students, with the aim of fostering a culture of kindness and inclusivity. 

Established by teacher Sophie Sparks in response to non-inclusive behaviour witnessed in schools, YOU CAN SIT WITH ME is a peer-led kindness and inclusivity program designed to create caring school communities.  

“Having no one to sit with at school can be a very isolating experience for students,” said Sparks. 

This year, Tip Top and YOU CAN SIT WITH ME have teamed up to drive social inclusion in primary schools. The partnership will see Tip Top – a staple of Aussie lunchtimes for generations – support YOU CAN SIT WITH ME in its ongoing work to empower and educate Aussie schoolkids, their parents and wider school communities on how to form stronger peer-to-peer social bonds. 

Tip Top will feature as a major sponsor of today’s event, taking place in over 900 schools across the country, as well as the YOU CAN SIT WITH ME Big Picnic taking place later this year in November.  

“YOU CAN SIT WITH ME is delighted to be partnering with Tip Top to help better the lives of Australian school students, encouraging children to come together at lunch, share sandwiches and forge friendships,” added Sparks.  

The program has now been launched in more than 900 schools across Australia since 2015 and involves student ambassadors wearing highly visible yellow wristbands to show they welcome anyone to sit with them. 

Schools, sporting clubs and community organisations can sign up for YOU CAN SIT WITH ME at https://youcansitwithme.org. 

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