Conflict-Solving Practice 2

1. 1

   As children grow, disagreements may involve rules and fairness rather than simply wanting the same toy. Use a pretend conflict to practice talking it through.

2. 2

   Dad and your child play a small soccer game with figures. Each figure kicks the ball ten times, takes a shot, then passes the turn.

3. 3

   Dad makes one figure break the rule by continuing past ten kicks. Pause and watch how your child responds.

4. 4

   If your child becomes upset, Mom asks what happened, then says, “Maybe the player forgot. We can remind them of the rule.”

5. 5

   Dad speaks for the figure: “Some of my kicks didn’t work.”

6. 6

   Ask your child whether the player could have a few replacement kicks. Discuss a solution that considers both the rule and the explanation.

What to notice

• After hearing the toy character’s explanation, agrees to give it another chance Relationships with Other Children
• Describes to you what just happened Communicating and Speaking

Tips

• Every child moves at their own pace, so keep the challenge at a level that feels just right. If your child is comfortable with the activity, add more characters and conflict situations. If it still feels difficult, simplify it—for example, practice only saying what they want. That is valuable practice too.

Developmental benefits

• Social/Emotional: Acting out a small disagreement in a toy soccer game gives your child practice noticing the problem, naming feelings, and trying solutions such as restating the rule, taking turns, and negotiating.
• Language: During the doll soccer game's "foul," your child practices explaining what happened and why it felt unfair, using clearer language to express ideas, feelings, and reasons.