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SOCIAL/EMOTIONAL: Help our young adolescents grow!
- Talk to your child: Make time each day to talk to your child about things going well and problems they may experience.
- Learn about young adolescence: This fascinating and perplexing stage of life has been researched and there are many excellent publications out there that can help you understand and accept your child's struggles.
- Interact with peers: Keeping your child busy can help them make friends and mature well. RGMS has an excellent SUN Community School with numerous extended-day activities.
- Exercise: Vigorous physical activity and time spent outside are super helpful for teens.
- Get counseling: Our school counselors and our assistant principal, are excellent sources for seeking help at school. Consider whether the issues you are seeking help with are normal functions of adolescence or are actually school issues. We are hesitant to pull students from classes and many teen issues can be solved at home.
Conflict Resolution for Middle SchoolersConflict is a normal part of the lives of young adolescents. It is important to let them solve their problems by learning conflict resolution skills. Often interpersonal conflicts are mistaken for bullying. These commandments are skills that will help your teenager not just deal with conflicts, but with life in general. But teenagers are stubborn. When you find yourself losing patience, take a deep breath. Remember, you too were a teenager once. It is important to start early. Teach conflict resolution to teenagers before adolescence turns them into rebels. And you as a parent need to be there for them. Be present, be aware of what is going on in their life – but do so with respect for their privacy. (taken from momjunction.com)
- Conflict is a reality.his is the most important skill you need to learn. Negotiating is a skill that will serve you in the long term.
- Stick to the present. Don’t drag in past issues. Doing so will only muddy the conflict further.
- The silent treatment does not work. Sulking is as bad as getting aggressive – it won’t solve the problem. Talk it out.
- Be understanding. Try to put yourself in the other person’s shoe. Don’t get defensive and analyze the situation.
- Learn to say sorry. St There is no escaping the fact. Hiding won’t solve anything.
- You can’t wish the problem away. Don’t pretend and put on a mask. Keeping your feelings cooped inside won’t work.
- Learn to deal with the problem, not the person. Conflict occurs because of a particular issue, not because of a person. Don’t make it personal.
- Be respectful. Listen to the other person. Really listen. Listening to your parents or teachers may seem like a drag but zoning out is not the solution.
- Be assertive. You don’t need to be either passive or aggressive to deal with teen conflicts. You need to be assertive. Being assertive means putting your views forward confidently and calmly.
- Learn to negotiate. Tand in front of the mirror and practice, if the need be! If you are wrong, accept it. Doing so will not make you a wimp. Only a strong person has the strength to say ‘sorry’. This simple word can work like magic, try it!