Supporting Your Child's Conflicts with Peers through STEP
Conflicts are a normal part of human interaction. Practicing conflict management is important and can prepare your child for future success. As part of the Second Step curriculum, children learn a problem-solving technique called STEP in elementary school and continue their learning with conflict resolution in middle school.
Steps to manage conflict:
- What is the conflict? Explore the experience of conflict without placing blame. Attempt to answer the who, what, when, where, how, and why for the conflict.
- What are possible solutions? Come up with at least three solutions for the problem.
- For each solution, consider the consequences. Support your child's thinking about each solution; determine each solution's positive and negative outcomes.
- What's the best solution? Choose the "best" option. Support your child's choice and check-in later.
If your child has conflicts with their peers, the best strategy for parents is to listen. Please support them in walking through the problem-solving steps. Parent Teen Connect has a lot of great resources to help you navigate conversations with your teen.
Additionally, Second Step has family access to resources available through SecondStep.org.
Utilize the appropriate access code to see materials to support your child.
Kindergarten: SSPK FAMI LY70
Grade 1: SSP1 FAMI LY71
Grade 2: SSP2 FAMI LY72
Grade 3: SSP3 FAMI LY73
Grade 4: SSP4 FAMI LY74
Grade 5: SSP5 FAMI LY75
Grade 6: SSP6 FAMI LY12
