Hi, my name is Filippo and I am 7 years old. Today in class, we have to work in pairs to make a drawing, and I’m paired with Luca. Luca is my friend, but sometimes he gets too close and touches me without asking. It bothers me, but I don’t know how to tell him.

During lessons, Luca and I start drawing together. As I work, Luca gets too close to my paper and puts his arm on mine. I feel uncomfortable, but I don’t want to be rude, so I don’t say anything. I notice that he keeps touching my paper and entering my personal space without asking.

How do you think Filippo feels when Luca doesn’t respect his space?

I decide to talk to Luca, but I don’t want to fight. Every time he gets too close or touches my paper without asking, I try to tell him politely, but he doesn’t seem to understand.

Some of our classmates make comments like, “It’s not a big deal!” or “You’re overreacting!” I feel more and more uncomfortable and not understanding right.

How important is it to respect someone’s personal space?

One day, during another group activity, Luca sat next to me again, and once more, he got too close. I tried to move, but he kept invading my space. I feel stuck and don’t know what to do. I decided it’s time to talk to him clearly.

What should I do:

I tell Luca, kindly but firmly, that it bothers me when he invades my personal space. I decide not to say anything because I’m afraid Luca will get mad or the classmates will think I’m overreacting.