home :: conflict resolution techniques

Teaching Conflict Resolution Techniques:
Teaching children effective problem solving skills through homeschooling

Conflict resolution techniques need to be taught to children starting at a very young age, and reinforced consistently throughout their childhood so that they develop effective problem solving skills necessary to survive and make appropriate decisions as adults. Homeschooling provides daily opportunities to teach conflict resolution techniques and effective problem solving skills, and these techniques can be modified to work for children of any age.

A particularly useful conflict resolution technique is to have your child keep a conflict journal. If your child is not yet old enough to write a journal by him or herself, you can record your discussions in a journal to be read to the child later. In your conflict journal, record each conflict your child experiences over a two-week period. Make sure you indicate how each conflict was handled, whether it was handled with confrontation, avoidance, or compromise, for example. When reviewing the conflict journal with your child after the two weeks have ended, discuss the problem solving skills they’ve used with each conflict, and ask your child what other ways each conflict could have been handled. A traditional school probably couldn’t have such intimate exercises because of the time they require in a one on one setting- homeschooling your child affords you this necessary time.

Study the five main steps to effective conflict resolution techniques and discuss with your child what they think each step means, and how they would implement it personally to further encourage them to develop problem solving skills of their own. The five steps are:

1) Identify the problem
2) Listen to each side of the conflict
3) Identify as many possible solutions as possible
4) Respond to suggestions for solutions
5) Reach a compromise

Understanding conflict resolution techniques is an integral part of using effective problem solving skills. Fortunately, you can include lessons to assist your children to understand these techniques in your homeschooling environment. Many games and books are available to help your in teaching your child these important skills.