Teaching kids to deal with conflict effectively and peacefully is perhaps the biggest challenge facing adults today. Children's disagreements both at home and at school can be noisy, physical and psychologically hurtful. The approach to conflict resolution learned and practised in childhood often stays for life.
Conflict is part of daily living. Effective people resolve conflict in ways that protect relationships, honour feelings and lead to a resolution. They neither avoid conflict nor do they use power to dominate others or win conflict.
It is useful for parents to provide a process for children to resolve individual differences peacefully and effectively. When two children have a disagreement that is upsetting to one or either then they may need adult assistance to resolve the conflict. One process that is both easy to learn and highly effective is the Face-Up conflict resolution process that is a variation on some common processes in use.
In the Face-up process children face each other and maintain eye contact. This helps for greater openness and understanding. It generally requires an adult to be present as a third party so parents may need to stick around to make sure it works effectively.
The steps involved in the Face-up process:
1. Safety first: To ensure safety and integrity it is important that both children are calm. Give them time and some help to regain control if they are angry or upset.
2. Feelings second: Using I-messages children tell each other how they feel about the situation. "I feel awful when you don't share your toys. I really feel like losing it because it is not fair." Focus on the feelings and don't let it get into recriminations or accusations.
3. Repeat third: Sometimes this process is enough to get a resolution or at least an apology. Repeat this procedure if necessary so both children feel they have been heard.
4. Resolve fourth: State the problem as you see it or as children identify it. Sometimes children just want to state their case and they will make their own suggestion about resolving it. "You can play with my old toys but I don't want you playing with my new toys for a while. They're special." "Okay."
5. Make-up fifth: An apology or an agreement is often enough however sometimes damage may need to be repaired or a follow-up talk from a parent about better behaviour may be appropriate.
Teaching children some simple rules for resolving conflict and a process such as the one above may well be one of the best investments in time and energy that a parent will make.
Michael Grose is Australia's leading parenting educator. He is the author of six books and gives over 100 presentations a year and appears regularly on television, radio and in print.
For further ideas to help you raise happy children and resilient teenagers visit http://www.parentingideas.com.au. While you are there subscribe to Happy Kids newsletter and receive a free report Seven ways to beat sibling rivalry.
bmw rental chicago Bensenville .. Lockport Chicago limo O’HareThe word no is probably the most overused word in... Read More
When kids try new things, sometimes it's a 'fit' and... Read More
A tall, weary-looking mother with glasses, walked into my counseling... Read More
I know as a single parent or even with 2... Read More
Most people with children want to be good parents. The... Read More
Is there a fathering instinct?Celebrated child development expert Erik Erikson... Read More
Why are more people, especially parents not outraged?I call it... Read More
So you want to be a mum? Every time you... Read More
Children think money grows on trees. Maybe not literally, but... Read More
What is a parenting problem?Parenting is a tough job, we... Read More
This may come as a surprise.But despite all the advances... Read More
One of the challenges for parents with a gifted child... Read More
1. The Law of the BeastAs parents we need to... Read More
1 - Forgive even if you will never be able... Read More
Child tantrums are a way for children to express their... Read More
Teens can freely access the Internet from computers at school,... Read More
Though you can cover even very long distances by car... Read More
(Excerpted from Jim Rohn's 2004 Weekend Leadership Event)You have to... Read More
A fun way to build your child's imaginationWriting is still... Read More
Dexedrine is not prescribed very often for the treatment of... Read More
1. Create... Read More
Fizzy sherbet in a paper bag with a strawberry lollipop... Read More
The cost of being a parent and raising a child... Read More
Several similar terms describe the central attribute of a character... Read More
Parents are in a unique position to "monitor" their children's... Read More
Breese limo service at o'hare ..My husband and I have a 12-year-old daughter who wanted... Read More
Coping with a child's bad behavior, perhaps more than any... Read More
As the flurry of Back to School activities subside, parents... Read More
A learning disability is defined as a permanent problem that... Read More
Despite the potentially dangerous side-effects of Ritalin, public school authorities... Read More
Parental Alienation Syndrome was probably first identified and codified by... Read More
Ask parents what their biggest school year challenge is, and... Read More
In the last 20 years we've all been introduced to... Read More
Having a high level of emotional intelligence in your children... Read More
You have two kids who are 14 months apart. How... Read More
This time, I would like to talk about a subject... Read More
It is extraordinary times that we find ourselves in. Change... Read More
There is a new stage of development for parents to... Read More
Single parents are not often thought of as good parents.I... Read More
Children do what feels good to them and follow their... Read More
Early childhood educators have called play "children's work". Many parents... Read More
It was a day that I will forever be etched... Read More
Winifred or Willow? Thomas or Troy? The name you choose... Read More
You may think once your child has gone off to... Read More
Get into their world. The world that teens are growing... Read More
I WAS AMAZEDI could hardly believe what I was hearing.... Read More
One of the basic issues we need to understand is... Read More
Let's face it: raising children can be quite the adventure.... Read More
Just as every snowflake is unique, so is every child.... Read More
In the movie, Finding Nemo, Nemo's father, Marlyn asks the... Read More
Parenting |