Social Emotional Learning
NOTE FOR FAMILIES:
Conflict always increases in times of stress and of togetherness. Right now we have both. When we could all use a little more peace in our homes conflict sneaks in. When we model good listening, consideration for others, compromising and limit setting we are teaching our children conflict resolution skills which are important for raising happy and healthy children.
Conflict Resolution
“PEACE IS NOT THE ABSENCE OF CONFLICT, IT IS THE ABILITY TO HANDLE CONFLICT BY PEACEFUL MEANS.”
~ RONALD REAGAN
Integrating this into your home:
4 Parts to an Apology
I am sorry for …
(The first step to any apology is to acknowledge the specific behavior or event that caused the damage.)
It was wrong because …
In the future, I will …
[Name], Will you forgive me? ...
5 Steps to Conflict Resolution (S.O.L.V.E)
S - Self Awareness
Before you can resolve a conflict you have to be aware of your own feelings and motives.
Are you bringing in hurt?
Did your actions contribute to the conflict?
O - Own It
Taking responsibility for your own actions and words is key to conflict resolution.
L - Listen
Listen to hear, not to respond. Listen twice as much as you speak.
Look at the person when they are talking to you.
Conflict will not be resolved if we are only listening to find a point to argue or to insert our opinion.
V- Value the other person's opinion
If your opinion matters, so does the other person's.
There are two experiences in every conflict. Reality is that both experiences are influenced by feelings and therefore neither are 100% accurate.
E - Empathize
Has here ever been a time when you felt the way they do?
Take a Break
When conflict arises with siblings taking a break is a great 1st step to resolution
A break offers -
Time to cool off
Time to reflect on our own behavior
Time to brainstorm resolution ideas
Pick a set amount of time for the break, but let your kids know that time can be shortened if they are able to come up with a solution to the conflict.
Giving children the option to shorten their break often motivates them to come up with a solution to the conflict.
Let’s Get Along
Use kind words
Listen
Share
Build each other up
Take Turns
Stop & think before acting
Talk things out
Be quick to forgive
Help others
ADDITIONAL TECHNOLOGY APPS/RESOURCES
Breathe2Relax is a portable stress management tool which provides detailed information on the effects of stress on the body and instructions and practice exercises to help users learn the stress management skill called diaphragmatic breathing.
Calm is another mindfulness app. These guided meditations are perfect for complete novices through seasoned practitioners, and you have your pick when it comes to how long you can dedicate to the app each day. In addition to an assortment of daily meditations, Calm features nature sounds and sleep stories.
Stop, Breathe, and Think is your daily mindfulness app that also prompts you to input how you’re feeling. Select your mood when you open the app and it will suggest the meditations, yoga sequences, or acupressure that could serve you best in that moment, from deep breathing exercises to body scans to visualizations. The check-in feature also allows you to track your moods and progress, so you can examine what you feel most and focus on taming or understanding those anxieties better.
What’s Up? uses techniques from both Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Acceptance Commitment Therapy to help users cope with issues like anxiety, depression, and anger. The app offers a diary feature with a scale for rating your emotions, a “catastrophe scale” to help you put problems in perspective, breathing techniques, and an interactive question game to keep you feeling grounded during stressful moments.
Mindshift app helps manage and decrease anxiety for people of all ages, and is used across the world.
Colorfy Pouring your attention into the beautiful designs can distract from your anxious thoughts and help calm you down.