Anti-bullying Week – Conflict Resolution
Today is day four of Anti-Bulling Week and here at Hamish & Milo we believe that relationships are at the heart of every learning environment.
Conflicts are a normal part of the relationship experience, and it is inevitable that disagreements will occur from time to time.
It’s important for us to learn how to withstand conflicts by helping to repair the harm done and restore connection with each other. Children who are able to manage conflict are happier, have healthier friendships and can learn better at school.
How well children can resolve conflict is related to their age and stage of development, their life experiences and how they see conflict managed by the adults around them. We can help children to manage conflict situations by:
Using sock puppets to explore conflict resolution can be a very helpful and effective tool in finding positive solutions in the classroom.
The uniquely playful nature of working with the sock puppets allows children to learn key listening and communication skills, whilst engaging them in a process of interaction, imagination, creativity, and collaboration.
The Hamish & Milo Actions, words and me programme uses a 'Listen and solve approach' to introduce the process of mediation and to demonstrate how this technique of understanding all points of view can lead to conflict resolution.
One of the activities in our programme, 'Conflict resolutions scripts', uses sock puppets and the adult as a mediator, working through scripted conflict scenarios, to demonstrate how resolution after conflict can be reached.
We invite you to try this activity in your setting.
