Even at a young age, it’s important for children to learn how to resolve a conflict. Learning conflict resolution skills can significantly help boost their self-confidence and make a positive impact on their overall wellbeing.
How to teach conflict resolution for kids?
Because these skills are not something we are born with, it is our role as parents to teach our children how to handle conflicts with others. This will help them maintain healthy relationships from childhood until they grow up. Read the following tips and learn about teaching conflict resolution.
Give your child enough time to calm down
The first step to resolving conflict is to make sure that the children involved are calm. Don’t force any conversation until they take a breather. Invite your child for a short walk. Or maybe ask them to write down their feelings. Do that something that makes them calm until they are ready to discuss things with you.
Come down to their level
Once calm, you can try to talk to your child but be sure to come down to their level. Avoid making them feel that they are about to be scolded. Instead, use a kind and friendly tone when asking them to state the problem. It is better if you sit with them or sit in a lower chair. Remember that your body language will affect how the child feels about the conversation.
When asking about the problem, encourage your child to be honest. Have them share with you everything, including how they feel. Whether they are angry, annoyed or furious, give them assurance that it’s perfectly fine to express their feelings.
If they are comfortable having this conversation in front of each other, be sure not to interrupt and give them the chance to recount the conflict. But if not, talk to them separately.
Teach them how to apologize
Apologizing for a mistake is often easier said than done. However, it is crucial when it comes to improving relationships with others. Before having your child say sorry, be sure they understand why this is important.
Make sure they understand that, by apologizing, they regret what they did and are taking responsibility for their actions. The apology must also come with a remedy. Ask them what they will do to avoid getting in the same situation.
Ask for solutions
Instead of coming up with your own solution, ask your child for ideas on how they want to solve the conflict. Encourage them to brainstorm for solutions. Once they have given their suggestions and ideas, guide them on how they will deliver it. Encourage them to speak to each other kindly. Then help them put their solution into motion. Be there to smooth out any potential bumps that may arise.
Do a follow-up
Follow up and see how the children are getting along. See if the strategy they came up with is working. However, if the solution did not work, it might be best to give the children a chance to have a break away from each other. In the meantime, encourage them to continue building friendships with other kids. When they are ready, give them the opportunity to be with one another where they can interact in a respectful and kind way.
Conflict resolution skills are one of the most important social skills that children ought to learn at an early age. It is one of the things that will help them enjoy fulfilling relationships. Use these tips to guide you as you teach your little ones conflict resolution.
While conflict resolution skills can be learned at home, a good quality preschool can teach a child the right social skills, too! Be sure to send your little one to the best preschool – Imagine Nation Learning Center.
