Teaching a Child To Manage Stress and Conflict at School

Learn how to support a child in managing stress and conflict at school with helpful tips and advice.

Unfortunately, there is no way to shield your children from the stress and conflict that occurs at school. They may find themselves having trouble with another student or even their teacher, and they may be stressed by the required work. However, as parents, we must take a step back and let our children learn how to deal with these challenges. They will need these skills to get them through life as an adult. 

So, how can you teach your child to manage stress and conflict at school? Here are some tips to help. 

Practice talking about feelings

Some children could keep their feelings bottled up inside. Instead of telling someone what is bothering them, they decide that it is better to keep it close and not let anyone know about it. However, this isn't always the best way to deal with complicated emotions. It is much better to talk to your children about their feelings. Ask them how they are feeling, and create an environment based on openness and understanding. That way, when they struggle, they will trust that they can come to you to talk about what is bothering them.

After they figure out exactly what is bothering them, they can talk to the person who needs to hear it. If they are having trouble with another child at school, they can speak to them about how they feel. If a teacher is a problem, they will be able to talk about their feelings with them (perhaps with an adult or guardian present). Teaching your children how to manage their emotions will allow them to identify the root of the problem, so you can find a solution together to resolve any challenges.

Think about it from another perspective

Listen when your child comes to you about their feelings, and then ask them a question. What do they think the other person is feeling? You are teaching your child about empathy by taking a moment to really think about the other person. It may also help your child come up with a solution because they might see something from a different perspective. 

Work together to come up with a solution

No matter how hard you want to jump in to discuss solutions, it would help if you let your children figure out how to do it themselves. When your child comes to you about a problem, ask them about their different options instead of telling them what they should do. As they devise ways to solve the problem, don't jump in. Just let them talk each one of them through. Let them see about the possibilities that could happen with each. Eventually, your child should be able to come up with a solution worth trying.

Ultimately, your child needs to make mistakes to learn how to handle him or herself to succeed in life. Even if the wrong decision is made, your child will still learn from it. If you always come to the rescue, you will continue to do so for a long time. So, let them talk through their feelings, the other person's feelings, and potential solutions until your child is ready to speak to the other person.

Inkblot Therapy