How to Resolve Play Conflicts Between Kids

Conflict is a part of almost every child's play--a part of learning and development. As kids grow and learn how to share and play with other children, the road can be rocky. Until they learn conflict resolution, many kids need an adult to step in and help resolve to the conflict.

Instructions

1. Break up the conflict with distraction. Introduce a new activity. Offer a craft or other involved task that the children can turn their attentions to.

2. Encourage kids to learn the art of conflict resolution. Engage the kids in talk about compromise and sharing. Let them come up with solutions to get along better.

3. Temporarily separate kids who can't break up their conflict. Make the kids play separately as long as they can't find common ground in their dispute.

4. Understand the conflict. Resolution may come from something simple that will solve an argument. Help all of the children in the conflict to understand the feelings of the others. Let each child air his grievances without being interrupted.

5. Allow kids in minor conflicts to try to resolve the situation themselves. Give them the tools to understand the problem and to compromise.

6. Keep all parties calm. Help the children to calm themselves and inject less emotion into the problem. Teach calming techniques, such as counting or deep breathing. Use humor to help break up the anger.

7. Stem off the conflict before it starts. Encourage kids to think about how to solve the problem the next time it occurs.