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The Communicator · № 09

Handled a Conflict

Mediated a real disagreement between two other people, classmates, siblings, teammates, and helped them reach a resolution they both accepted.

The idea

Mediation isn't taking a side. It's making both people feel heard before any solution gets proposed. Have your kid summarize each side's position out loud to the other person until each one agrees they've been understood. Only then ask what each would accept. Most fights end at the summary step because the actual problem was that nobody had been listened to. Solving comes after listening.

Steps
  1. Find a real disagreement where two people would accept your kid as mediator.
  2. Have each describe their position. Don't let either interrupt.
  3. Summarize each side until they agree they were heard.
  4. Ask what each would accept. Land on something both sign off on.
What counts

A real conflict mediated to a resolution both parties accepted. A short writeup is plenty.