During our topic exploration of “Our Classroom as a Community” and “Our School as a Community” the JKs have been busy listening to stories, creating art work, and using puppets in relationship to “Friendship”. As we talk about “being a friend” and “being helpful and kind to others”, we also are working on resolving conflicts with one another.
The JKs have been creating stories about “Friends” using puppets. Their animal friends say “Hello” to their audience and create a short story while they share a variety of feelings with one another during a puppet show. They also created a “Friendship Wreath”. Together they made up the following “friendship story” to go with the wreath (The story can be seen in class next to the hanging wreath).
How do we support young children in resolving conflicts?
Conflict is inevitable during the course of children’s play. When something gets in their way (another child wants the same toy; or a group of children disagree on how to play; or who gets to play) children become frustrated and angry. This does not mean they are being bad, selfish, or mean. They simply have not yet learned how to interpret social cues (facial expressions, tone of voice, body movements), understand other viewpoints, or match their behaviour to the situation.
It is important to understand that children need help learning how to work out their disagreements together. In fact, we view conflicts as valuable learning opportunities through which we can help children develop social skills and become more aware of their actions have on others. Rather than punishing or rewarding children to influence their behaviour, we use a six-step approach to problem solving and resolution. Please ask me if you wish to see one.
What do children learn from the conflict resolution process?
As children gain practice with this process, they often begin to use one or more steps on their own. Adults may approach a group to help solve a problem, only to hear the children say, “We already solved it!” In mastering the conflict resolution process, the children have learned how to: express needs and strong feelings; hear and respect other’s points of view; express ideas and experience the give-and-take of relationships; develop a desire for participating in positive social behaviours; feel in control of the solution and outcome; experience successful cooperative solutions; develop trust in other children and adults; make constructive choices and experience feelings of competence.