The Peace Education Foundation's guide for parents and professional caregivers Creating Caring Children provides early childhood educators in the parent participation Strong Start Learning Centre effective resources to model safe and appropriate responses to common yet difficult conflict situations. This modelling involves assertive, problem solving language and behaviors. 

 

"Focusing on key statements and principles helps caregivers respond to children's needs, not impulsively out of frustration or irritation, but consciously, deliberately, and rationally out of our knowledge, awareness, and understanding" (p. 3). 

 

The skills and strategies that are reinforced through responsive and nurturing adults will help children develop tools they will require as they grow, such as:

 

• self confidence

• social competence

• compassion

• assertiveness

• non violent problem solving skills

 

 

Developing these skills in the early years will lead children into kindergarten and early elementary school years with the ability and langauge to integrate into a larger educational setting with confidence. The importance and influence of parents and significant adults modelling and reinforcing prosocial behaviors with their children is essential; therefore, parent participation and engagement ideally must be incorporated into the early years and school communities. Peace Works programs provide training and materials to support the implementation of their principles at home and school, reinforcing important social emotional learning for children. 

 

Please see "Peace Works in Action" tab to see sample lessons from this resource and extension ideas.