“We’re just playing” – hidden bullying patterns among children in everyday games

This study focuses on a 3rd grade at a Danish school, where the teachers try to handle the obvious discontent among the children. Especially some of the children get by very poorly at school, but the dominant understandings and explanations among the professionals are mainly connected to the children themselves or their family backgrounds. This study takes a close look at the existing bullying patterns in the group and an even closer look at some of the games played in the schoolyard. The analysis of the case shows the dominant bullying patterns that rules among the children and how the games are appropriated by bullying patterns and used by the children to negotiate positions, make in- and exclusions and to continue a production of contempt aimed at certain children. However, the bullying acts appear in ways that are subtle, hidden, and difficult for the teachers to notice. It looks like the kids are just playing – and that is also how they explain it themselves.