Kids will be kids and disputes between playmates are bound to erupt. When is it good for a parent to intervene and when is it better to let kids work things out for themselves?

    The best way to deal with conflict is to avoid it in the first place. Help kids to stay out of sticky situations by preparing them in advance:

•  Reinforce good behavior when you see it. If you notice that the kids are sharing well or playing nicely together, let them know that they are doing a great job. This will help them to know what kind of behavior you are expecting so that they can model it in the future.
•  Explain rules before they start playing. Help stop a conflict before it starts by laying out some clear boundaries. Telling kids “everyone must wait for their turn before going down the slide” or “we need to share the toys in the sandbox and make sure everyone gets one” will help them to understand the expectation that they play fairly.
• Teach them to come to you. Tell your child that if he is overwhelmed or doesn't know how to handle a situation, he can always come to a trusted adult to help resolve it.

      Some conflict is inevitable, so it's a great idea to teach your child conflict management skills. Try these tips to help her manage conflict when it arises:

•  Give them the words to identify their feelings. Kids can have a difficult time expressing their emotions. If you help them identify if they are feeling mad or sad or hurt, it can help them to express what they are feeling without having the conflict escalate.
•  Help them understand the other person's feelings. Help your child develop empathy by asking her what she thinks the other child is feeling, and helping her understand those feelings.
•  Encourage them to think up solutions. Rather than imposing a solution to the dispute, ask the children involved how they would like to resolve it. Often kids will come up with some pretty creative solutions, and they will likely be happier with their own solution than one that a parent comes up with.