When is a conflict not a conflict?
At CRESST we know that conflict is an everyday thing and sometimes it’s not even that easy to notice when it’s happening. In ongoing relationships, we often find ways to minimise conflict or to incorporate agreed solutions into interactions.
For example, getting the washing up done can cause arguments between people who live together. But once there’s an agreed method for fair turn taking – and it’s kept to! – it’s probably no longer viewed as a source of conflict.
Different people, different ways
Different people will want to deal with conflictdifferently – sometimes dealing with conflict can be a source of conflict! It’s important to remember that the other person might have a different understanding about the problem and how to resolve it. One thing’s for sure, when you’re feeling wound up, you’re not going to be at your most receptive to listening to the other person or thinking creatively about solutions.
These are all complex behaviours and it can be difficult to remember all the learning you’ve done to understand how to handle conflict well. CRESST works to empower children and young people to learn handle conflict well. We offer training and resources for the adults who work with them to introduce key skills and knowledge to support positive communication and realistic strategies for handling conflict in ways that won’t cause hurt or harm.
Lessons accredited by the PSHE Association
CRESST have developed a six-lesson series Curious about Conflict, which has been accredited by the PSHE Association for use with secondary age pupils. The lessons are based on our experience of working with schools for nearly twenty years. You can find out more about these lessons here.
The full series (6 lessons, slides, video and all resources) are available on our website for free until the 18th April.
For nearly twenty years, CRESST has been working with schools, developing practical models to enable children, young people and adults to manage conflict constructively. If you’d like to get our regular update on Handling conflict well, why not join our mailing list? You can sign up here.
