Bermuda Parent Bermuda Parent Spring 2016 | Page 18

little ones
BY MAHA TURNER, MSC IN MONTESSORI,
SOMERSFIELD CHILDREN’S HOUSE TEACHER
Conflict Resolution
in a Montessori
Classroom
“Do we believe and constantly insist that cooperation among the peoples of the
world is necessary in order to bring about peace? If so, what is needed first of all is
collaboration with children.... All our efforts will come to nothing until we remedy
the great injustice done the child, and remedy it by cooperating with him. If we
are among the men of good will who yearn for peace, we must lay the foundation
for peace ourselves, by working for the social world of the child” (International
Montessori Congress, 1937).
“Preventing war is the work of politicians, establishing
peace is the work of educationists.” – Maria Montessori
Children’s home and school environments are crucial
in the development of peaceful skills that will help children
to make nonviolent choices in their daily interactions with
each other and their families.
For children to understand and internalize conflict
resolution skills, we have to prepare their environment for
the development of these skills. They need clear guidelines,
peaceful adult role models, love, kindness, and a solid foun-
dation of values/virtues.
Many of us as adults did not learn these crucial conflict
resolution skills as young children, which make us unable to
be successful role models for our children.
First, we need to develop these skills and role model
peaceful behavior so our children can thrive in a peaceful
environment of kindness and firmness that is free of pain,
blame, shame, or judgment (Nelson, 1987).
In our Montessori environments we understand the
importance and need for children to make silence and to
enjoy their inner peace, which we practice as a community
on a daily basis.
The Peace Table
Special Peace Tables, adorned with beautifully prepared
objects are often found in Montessori environments. Chil-
dren are able to take pleasure in silence through items
such as a water wheel timer, sand timer, and smooth and
attractive stones.
The children use the Peace Table when they feel the
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need to calm down, cool off, or just enjoy their inner peace.
It is also used to resolve conflicts. The children learn various
skills to resolve conflicts through community meetings and
role plays. During our weekly peace circle, we use the Talk-
ing Stick as a tool so children can take turns talking without
being interrupted. The Talking Stick originated from Native
American tribes, it helped and reminded them to use words
to make important decisions or to solve problems instead
of using weapons. The Talking Stick is extremely useful for
children because they feel safe and do not need to compete
for attention. All children have equal opportunities to be
heard regardless of their talkative or quiet nature (Janke &
Peterson, 1995).
When two children have a conflict, they take their
conflict partner to the Peace Table. If one child or both