How to Help Kids Cope with Disagreements

Children and teens in school have the potential for a difference of opinion throughout the year. As a parent, you can help them through these situations.

Disagreements or differences in opinion happen for many reasons. In any situation, parents can help their kids address these issues and how to disagree with respect.

You can help your child find ways to cope, such as exercise, breathing activities and mindfulness practices.

Dealing with Conflicts

So what should you tell your child who is having issues with disagreements? How can they stand up for themselves in a way that shows others respect?

Here are some ideas:

• Talk to your child about their opinions and feelings. Ask them how they feel, and don’t dismiss their feelings. Let them realize you hear them. Keep lines of communication open.
• Practice dealing with conflict at home. What do you say to someone who has differing beliefs? We can teach children empathy and compassion, even when other people’s points of view are different if we teach them to look at issues from the other person’s perspective.
• If your child is feeling bullied for any reason, encourage them to bring concerns to a trusted adult at school, such as a teacher or counselor. Explain what bullying is, and that every time someone says something that hurts our feelings, it doesn’t necessarily mean they are bullies. Bullying is repetitive in nature and is aimed at the same person.

Talk to them about intentional and unintentional consequences of what we say and do.

Set the Example for Children

Model how to handle conflict. Kids and teens watch how we handle it, so we need to model empathy if we want our kids to understand it – and do the same.

Respect the choices of others. Your children will pick up on this, too. 

At a young age, a person who learns to deal with a difference of opinion – without becoming angry or getting upset – can have later success in many aspects of their lives. Kids often are actually very adept at problem-solving, and they come up with solutions when we give them the opportunity to do so, as well as support and our attention when they need it.

By modeling conflict-resolving and coping skills, we can help our children learn to deal with a multitude of disagreements.

By Twila Perkinson, Family Life Educator, Women’s and Children’s Community Outreach Education, Avera McKennan Hospital & University Health Center