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Helping teens learn to address conflicts peacefully is essential for their development. Get teens’ strategies and conflict resolution activities to set them up for success.

This resource page shares a list of the most comprehensive strategies and resources for teaching teenagers conflict management and conflict resolution skills.

Get 10 conflict resolution activities for teens now!

Background

Conflict resolution activities are essential for teenage development.

By providing teens with tools to hone their communication, conflict management, and resolution skills, they gain knowledge that will help them grow into adults.

With my experience as a parent, coach, and educator, I specialize in helping teens learn how to better handle difficult situations by using fun and rewarding techniques to develop communication skills.

Get Started with Conflict Resolution Activities for Teens

High school is a time of great emotional stress.

As someone who works with high school students daily, I can attest to the importance of teaching them conflict resolution skills.

Many students quickly resort to violence or other destructive behaviors when faced with a conflict.

Remember, conflict resolution skills are not natural. They are taught.

• Learning how to resolve conflicts healthily is an essential skill for students and will serve them well throughout their lives.
• Helping students develop social skills by teaching them specific techniques for managing conflict sets the tone for their success.
• Teaching young people healthy conflict resolution methods sets them up to resolve conflicts independently and peacefully.

Strategies for Teaching Conflict Resolution to Teens

Conflicts between teens often become tense and emotionally charged.

It’s important to prepare teens with the necessary conflict resolution skills to help them learn to manage conflicts effectively.

Acknowledge Common Reasons for Conflict 

It is important for teens to understand why people conflict with each other and the common sources of tension between individuals.

• Role-playing activities are great tools for this type of learning.
• Ask teens to act out different scenarios and discuss potential solutions.

Another good activity is writing down a list of common reasons why conflict arises, so students start to recognize these types of situations in their lives in the future.

Develop a List of Positive Conflict Resolution Strategies

Small group work is great for brainstorming as many positive strategies for resolving conflicts as possible.

• Ask teens to think of solutions that have worked for themselves and others.
• Each group can present its list to the larger group and discuss the pros and cons of each strategy.

This activity is a great way for teens to practice problem-solving and communication skills while learning how to address conflicts effectively.

Practice Active Listening Skills 

Active listening involves taking the time to hear and understand what the other person is saying accurately.

Encouraging teens to ask reflective questions ensures they’ve understood messages correctly.

For example, if a friend says, “I know I shouldn’t have said that about your parents.” They might ask, “So, you regret saying something unkind about my family?”

Showing the importance of empathy and value during conflict opens up the conversations. When we are open to hearing what the other person says, we take the first step toward conflict resolution.

Discuss Perspectives on Conflict Resolution Strategies

One of the best ways to teach teens about conflict resolution is to explore each other’s perspectives on various strategies actively.

Set aside time to discuss different approaches and success stories about dealing with conflicts.

Sharing their own experiences, both positive and negative, is a great way to get teens to talk about conflict resolution strategies.

As part of this process, include scenarios requiring different ways to work through differences in opinion or disagreement.

This helps teens learn to recognize the needs of the parties involved in a conflict. They also are provided with an opportunity to practice better communication skills. Ultimately leading to a successful resolution.

Participate in Role Playing Exercises

Scenarios help teens understand how to navigate conflict resolution successfully.

Have the teens come up with or research appropriate scenarios and practice them in a safe setting.

This helps young people develop problem-solving skills they can use in real-world situations.

As they learn to “see from the other side,” teens will develop a different understanding and perspective when communicating during a disagreement.

Role-playing is also an excellent way for teens to practice their interpersonal skills safely without fear of real-life consequences.

Conflict Resolution Activities for Teens

Teaching students specific techniques for managing conflict helps them develop healthy skills for resolving conflict.

However, when it comes to conflict resolution, high school students need to know various strategies they can use to come to a solution.

Group Discussions

Group discussions are a great way to engage in conflict resolution activities for teens. When students feel comfortable and safe, have group discussions about times when they’ve faced conflict and what could have been done differently. Group activities like discussions help them learn and grow from their experiences.

Emotional Intelligence

It is proven that emotionally intelligent people bring a positive attitude to conflict. Emotional intelligence also leads to better and more creative solutions. Building on this idea, teaching teens to approach conflict with a positive attitude, learn more, and could better apply what they have learned to future situations.

Communication Skills

Some ways to resolve conflict include active listening communication strategies. Reflecting skills are essential active listening techniques for students to learn. These strategies are crucial and help prepare students to be better communicators. If students learn how to communicate effectively, they will be more likely to resolve conflicts as they arise.

Conflict Management Styles

Learning about how conflict management styles work is also essential to conflict resolution. When students understand each of the five styles, they know insights into the main types of conflict and the character traits of each conflict management style. This helps them manage their behavior and recognize others’ conflict management styles.

Conflict Management Model

Sometimes both parties involved in a conflict have valid points but are unwilling to budge on their stance. Conflict resolution will not be successful unless both parties are willing to work together to find a solution. Students who learn about a proven conflict management model are equipped to face the world and manage internal and external conflicts.

Point of View

Students must be willing to put their opinions forward. The first thing they should do when a conflict occurs is to try to figure out what’s going on. Instead of jumping in immediately to resolve the dispute, they can learn a process to help them think first about things from the other’s perspective.

When they create space and time to reflect on the point of view of others and give it some thought, they are prepared for potentially difficult conversations.

Get 10 Conflict Resolution Activities for Teens

The articles listed below include several conflict resolution activities for teens.

Themes and conflict resolution activities for teens in each post:

• communication skills
• comprehension strategies
• short stories
• example of each type of conflict
• interests, needs, and underlying concerns in conflict
• causes of different kinds of conflict
• context clues
• different types of conflict function
• literature worksheets

List of conflict resolution activities for teens:

Proven Conflict Management Model for Teens (4 Stages)

How to Teach Conflict Management Styles

How to Teach the Cycle of Conflict to Teens

Exclusive Conflict Resolution Activities for High School

How to Teach Teenagers Conflict Resolution Skills

How to Successfully Teach Teens Conflict Resolution Skills

How Children’s Books Help Teens Learn Conflict Resolution

How to Prepare a Behavior Management Plan for Teens

Complete List for How to Teach Teens Communication Skills

How to Teach Teens Valuable Communication Skills

Summary

Conflict resolution activities for teens are a valuable tool for helping them build skills and confidence to deal with disagreements in healthy, productive ways.

These activities should focus on boosting communication and problem-solving skills, understanding one’s own emotions and the emotions of those involved in the conflict, learning strategies for managing conflicts without resorting to violence or escalation, and practicing constructive conflict resolution techniques.

Thanks for stopping by!

Until next time,

Suzanne

Related Topics

• How to Teach Teenagers Conflict Resolution Skills
• Exclusive Conflict Resolution Activities for High School
• How to Successfully Teach Teens Conflict Resolution Skills
• Proven Conflict Management Model for Teens (4 Stages)
• How to Teach Conflict Management Styles