Dealing With Conflict

Kids experience conflict and it is important for them to know how to deal with it. Model healthy conflict resolution within your family. If two kids have a disagreement, encourage them to discuss the issue with each other first. Try not to step in unless asked or unless the situation is escalating. If kids share about conflicts happening outside of your family, help them brainstorm godly ways to handle them.

Here’s how we discussed this topic and how you can discuss it at home: 

Discuss: Have you ever gotten into a disagreement with a friend?

Discuss: How do you handle an argument? What do you do?

Discuss: What do you think God has to say about that?

Say: People disagree sometimes, even if they are good friends. Sometimes arguments are easy to resolve, but sometimes they get difficult and feelings can get hurt. Some people deal with conflict by trying to avoid it and hope it goes away. Some people get really angry and say things they may regret. Jesus gives us a good guide for resolving conflict in Matthew 18. He says to go to the person, one on one, and talk about what has upset you. Don’t talk to a bunch of friends first and try to get them to take sides. If that one-on-one conversation doesn’t work, get one trusted person to help you. James 1:19 says: be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger. Conflict is hard, but we can honor God in how we deal with it by being careful in how we respond and handling it His way.