Coping with Different Types of Conflict When should I intervene in children’s disputes? When is it better to let children work it out for themselves? Are the methods that I would use instinctively recommended by experts? What new strategies can I incorporate into my conflict resolution repertoire? Chapter 9 Exploring Your Role, Jalongo & Isenberg, Pearson Education, Inc., 2004.

Possession Disputes Analyze the materials, equipment, and organization of your classroom. Remember that children live and play in other environments where materials are not shared all that much. Discourage the practice of bringing to school items that children will not or should not share. Chapter 9 Exploring Your Role, Jalongo & Isenberg, Pearson Education, Inc., 2004.

Attention Getting Greet every child personally every day. Hear children out and listen to what they say as well as how they say it. Identify the behavior that is unacceptable and why it is occurring. Chapter 9 Exploring Your Role, Jalongo & Isenberg, Pearson Education, Inc., 2004.

Power Struggles Try making suggestions that will lead to a mutually beneficial conclusion. Reassure children that they will get a turn and make sure that they do. Keep track of who gets a turn at something. Chapter 9 Exploring Your Role, Jalongo & Isenberg, Pearson Education, Inc., 2004.

Personality Clashes Be scrupulously fair in everything that you do. Clearly designate quiet and noisy areas of your classroom. Set up situations in which the children’s differences in personality represent an advantage. Chapter 9 Exploring Your Role, Jalongo & Isenberg, Pearson Education, Inc., 2004.

Group-Entry Disputes Make it clear that everyone is expected to get along with everyone else. Model the correct way of approaching a group that is playing. Chapter 9 Exploring Your Role, Jalongo & Isenberg, Pearson Education, Inc., 2004.

Aggressive Play Set reasonable limits on play. If a small group is responsible for the aggression, temporarily disband the group. Chapter 9 Exploring Your Role, Jalongo & Isenberg, Pearson Education, Inc., 2004.

Teasing and Name Calling Model respect, caring, and patience. Use children’s literature that depicts teasing and bullies. Chapter 9 Exploring Your Role, Jalongo & Isenberg, Pearson Education, Inc., 2004.

Shifting Blame Make it clear that telling the truth and admitting a mistake are expected. Give children a chance to offer an explanation for what happened before rushing into a decision about how to respond. Chapter 9 Exploring Your Role, Jalongo & Isenberg, Pearson Education, Inc., 2004.