“A characteristic of the normal child is he doesn't act that way very often.”
- Unknown
Dear Family Member,
During a recent Developmental Guidance Lesson, your child viewed the program We Can Work It Out: Conflict Resolution. Classroom conflicts may arise over material things, over specific needs, or over values. For young children who are still adjusting to the school experience and to the interaction with peers, these conflicts may seem overwhelming because they may not yet have the tools with which to handle them. Here are some ways you can help your child use the ideas he or she learned for working out a conflict.
• Discuss what conflict means: when two or more people disagree or argue or want to fight about something.
• Ask your child to tell you about the program. Here are some things he or she learned to do when there is a conflict.
• Ask questions and listen to get the facts.
• Use your words to tell the other person how you feel about the situation without hitting, calling names, or blaming.
• Work with the other person to come up with ideas for solving the problem and choose one you can agree on.
• Ask for help if you can’t settle the problem yourself.
• Help your child use these ideas when you see him or her in conflict with someone else.
• Set a good example for your child by using these ideas yourself whenever you can.
Reading with your child is a perfect way to reinforce concepts and to make a connection between literature and life lessons. The following books may help open a dialog: Baker, Barbara. Digby and Kate. New York: Dutton, 1988. Fujikawa, Gyo. That’s Not Fair! Grosset & Dunlap, Inc, 1983. Hoban, Russel Conwell and Lillian Aberman Hoban.The Sorely Trying Day. New York: Harper & Row Publishers, Inc. 1964.
This book may help you talk with your child about solving conflicts: Schmidt, Fran and Alice Friedman. Creative Conflict Solving for Kids. Miami Beach: Peace Education Foundation, 1983.
Yours truly,
Ms. Cahill
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