Strategies for Managing Conflict in Advance
This week I share some strategies for managing conflict in your interactions with your child. Use these positive strategies to prevent conflict in advance:
One Strategy for Managing Conflict at Home:
A behavioral rewards chart that lists behaviors which have previously led to conflict with a place to record positive behavior with a star, happy face, sticker or checkmark.
When our children were young, bath-time, picking up toys, brushing teeth were chronic sources of conflict. I made up a chart listing 4 or 5 of these daily activities with a place for stars for successful completion. A certain agreed upon number of stars might mean a Happy Meal from MacDonald’s, a movie, special time with a parent or a play date.
One Strategy for Managing Conflicts at School:
In my classroom I had a weekly raffle of gift certificates or items donated by local merchants. I awarded tickets for task completion, packing up on time, or staying on task. I had a list of the behaviors that I was looking for posted in the classroom. Every Friday I would pick a random raffle ticket and give out a prize. On Monday, I would start over with an empty container for raffle tickets and a fresh start.
One General Strategy To Minimize Conflicts at Home:
Use an old fashioned egg timer, kitchen timer or phone timer to set how much time is allotted for a behavior such as completing homework, getting dressed for school, and picking up toys.
Remember that these are just tools for you to use whenever you can prevent a power struggle. Enjoy your child! Next week I will review strategies for managing conflict in the heat of the moment. Wishing you success in managing conflict one day at a time.
With love,
Karen
Copyright (c) 2016 by GenParenting
Karen Salzer has over thirty years’ experience as a resource teacher in the Palo Alto public schools. She earned a doctorate in education from Stanford University. Her areas of expertise involve working with culturally diverse students with special needs including autism, emotional disturbances, learning disabilities, and health issues. As a special educator, Ms. Salzer served as a liaison between parents of special needs students and school staff. She guided parents and staff in identifying an appropriate education for each student in the public school setting. Additionally, she aided students and parents in navigating the educational requirements for graduation, test-taking and in finding support services within the community. Through her leadership, Ms. Salzer encouraged collaborative problem-solving between parents and school staff – such as accommodations for test taking, extended time and use of technology. She loves to follow-up with her students when they become adults and to highlight their many successes in education and careers. Ms. Salzer uses these success testimonials to reassure parents of other children and to encourage them to help their children pursue their full potential. Ms. Salzer is the mother of four adult children and helps care for her five grandchildren