Step 7 - LAST STEP!
Are we preparing children for real friendship… or just hoping they’ll stop bossing everyone about?
Playground peacekeeping takes more than “Let her have a turn.” We’re aiming for children who can compromise, take a “no,” and not try to run the room.
What can we do?
Coach the hard stuff - “She said ‘no’. What can you do instead?”
Model fair play - take turns yourself and narrate it. Use the staff and pretend to be kids together, not just for a laugh.
Let small conflicts play out - not every whine needs a whistle.
Group jobs and buddy roles - practise collaboration, not domination.
Call out kindness - “You gave him the last block. That was really thoughtful.”
Reflection Prompts
Are we coaching children to handle friendship hiccups - or just firefighting arguments?
Do our quieter kids get enough social practice, or are we always focused on the loud ones?
Is “kind” something we teach, or just something we tell them to be?
Activities to Try
Friendship Jobs: Give children rotating roles - “Snack sharer,” “Buddy finder,” “Kindness spotter.”
Mini Scenarios: Use puppets or quick story cards to explore what to do when someone won’t share or pushes in.
Kindness Jar: Every time someone is spotted being kind or fair, they add an item - visual proof that good things build up.