How to solve conflicts between children

Don’t blame them: They might be wrong at times but not all the time. If we keep on blaming them for everything , soon they will stop telling us things.

Don’t direct them; guide them: There is a difference between guiding and directing. Always remember they have an individuality with certain ideas and way of thinking. By directing them, we are forcefully telling them to change themselves. If we explain to them what else could have been done then they will be easily convinced. They might not be in a mood to give it a thought that very moment but our words stay in their mind.

Empower children to brainstorm solutions to their conflict: It’s so tempting as an all-knowing adult to generate solutions, but something the kids think up and agree upon on their own will more likely work. Encourage them to speak to each other (not you) and to speak honestly and kindly. Many problems can be resolved just by talking. Tell them sometimes friendly fights, conflicts, disagreements happen but that doesn’t mean its the end of their friendship.

Talk to their friends if needed: Don’t hesitate in having a small friendly conversation with their friends. Sometimes kids are not able to handle everything on their own. They need our participation. But while talking to their friends don’t forget you are talking to the same age kids so be careful with your words.

We talked about listening to them, being there for them but the truth is we cannot be everywhere and every time available for them. This leads us to the last point,

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  Teach kids to stand for themselves: Yes, it is very important. We don’t want our kids to be dependent on us for every problem. They should have the bond of coming and discussing their problems with us but we should not convey a message that we are always there to solve their problems. In the end, they have to stand for themselves. They should have that courage to speak up. They should not feel pressurized or scared to say what is right.
  

I feel, if we give a patient listening ear, an open door policy to discuss and trust that they will not be judged kids are more likely to start handling such issues wisely.
Are you a teacher or parent who finds themselves at their wit’s end when trying to handle conflicts among children? Are screaming matches and tears on the regular making teaching or parenting especially difficult?
Conflict resolution for kids is an important life skill that needs to be taught, but how can you do it in a way that will teach your kids how to handle arguments constructively?
In this blog post, we’ll provide tried-and-tested ideas for conflict resolution for kids so that teachers and parents can take action toward helping children develop communication skills and make healthy decisions. Read on for more!
As a parent, you know that sooner or later, your kids will squabble. It’s a normal part of growing up. But sometimes, the disagreements can get pretty intense, and you might not know how to help them resolve the conflict peacefully.
Check out these ideas for conflict resolution for kids – they might be handy! ;-)
Conflicts are a natural part of any social context. Conflict occurs when children disagree, oppose or retaliate against each other, which may lead to challenging and emotionally charged interactions. Conflicts should not be associated with aggression, however, nor perceived as negative. This means they do not need to be quickly resolved, but can be used as a context for learning a range of social and emotional skills, such as empathy, communication, negotiation, emotional regulation and thinking. While conflict should not be avoided, or quickly stopped by adults imposing solutions, too much conflict can be stressful for everyone in an early childhood setting and so preventative measures, such as clearly understood routines and behavioural expectations, are important. Children can be overwhelmed by strong emotions during conflict situations and may find it difficult to remember and use strategies such as problem-solving until they are supported to regulate their emotions.