Sticks and Stones (Nursery Rhyme)

Summary

This well-known rhyme is a simple expression intended to teach resilience in the face of verbal teasing or bullying. It suggests that physical actions, like being hit with sticks or stones, can cause real harm, whereas words do not have the same power to injure. The rhyme is often used to encourage children to ignore hurtful comments and not to be overly affected by other people's mean or insulting words. It emphasizes the idea that one’s self-worth and emotional well-being do not need to be dictated by the negative words of others.

Read Online