Playgrounds are meant to be places where people can go for much-needed rest and relaxation. However, if a dispute breaks out, it can be hard to enjoy the space.
It’s not always easy to mediate conflict, especially when dealing with young kids. Use these useful tips to settle playground disputes before they get out of hand.
Listen
The first step to settling playground disputes is understanding what the conflict was over. It’s easy to jump to conclusions if you haven’t heard from both sides, so ensure you’re patient and get the entire story before making any judgments.
Talking directly with the individuals in conflict will ensure things don’t escalate further. When dealing with a dispute between children, it’s essential to remain calm and keep eye contact. Try to get them to solve the problem themselves to make it a learning experience.
Mediate
After listening to the underlying reasons for the dispute, it’s time to start mediation. Ensure you’re focusing on the underlying problem and not laying blame on the individuals. Talking things through requires empathy and a shared desire to overcome conflict.
Allowing children to let off some steam in the play area may be helpful before returning to the issue. A plastic Gaga ball pit is the perfect environment for kids with lots of energy. Fostering positive relationships is the best way to overcome unnecessary disputes.
Reconcile
The final step to settling playground disputes is reconciliation. Arbitrating an argument requires a favorable resolution. Rather than issuing a judgment, get the kids to work together to solve the problem and sincerely apologize.
A dispute is the perfect opportunity to teach kids important lessons about empathy, kindness, and fairness. Settling things for them won’t give them the growth and development they need. Giving them space to deal with their emotions and communicate the problem will allow them to resolve the situation independently without intervention.
Keep Playgrounds Fun and Free of Conflict
Disputes are inevitable on the playground. Young children don’t always fully grasp how to deal with conflicts. Communicating with them and helping them learn how to arbitrate is essential for raising well-rounded adults.
With these useful tips to settle playground disputes, you can ensure the kids in your community are well-adjusted and ready to handle conflict without getting out of hand.