IS THERE MEDIATION FOR CHILDREN?

One question I occassionally am asked is whether or not there is mediation specifically for children. The short answer is… yes. It’s known as “peer mediation” or sometimes “peacemaker programs” and made available in schools across the country. It is estimated that about 25% of schools offer such sessions.

Students in these programs typically first learn basic negotiation skills and practice mediation procedures. Typically, that simple approach is designed to facilitate solutions that are acceptable to the parties involved within the constraints of school policies and laws. The classes may be 30 minutes a day for two or three weeks. After that, the students are available to mediate conflicts as they occur on the school yard or in classrooms.

The conflicts peer mediators deal with in elementary schools include put-downs and teasing, playground conflicts, possession conflicts, physical aggression and fights as well as turn-taking problems. In middle school and high schools, of course, the conflicts reflect those age groups.

Most school administrators and teachers will report that before initiating a peer mediation program, students were not learning constructive negotiation skills in their homes or communities. They typically dealt with conflicts using destructive strategies, such as trying to force the other person to give in and escalating simple conflicts to the level of physical confrontation.

After initiating a peer mediation program, schools typically report a significant decrease in such confrontations and in some cases a complete reduction in student-to-student conflicts that had to be handled by teachers and principals. And the program evaluations also reported that students were using their peer mediation skills in settings outside of their schools, such as with siblings, friends and other family members. Some evaluation reports mention that parents often request their children who were not in the peer mediation program be offered that opportunity the following school year. And some parents even requested the training for themselves!

I’ve had the opportunity to observe and evaluate school-based peer mediation programs. Does it resolve all conflicts in the schools? Of course not, but there is no doubt that peer mediation programs have a major impact. There is no doubt that the students learn new communication skills and have confidence in utilizing them with their peers. I believe the confidence that they can help resolve conflicts is a major benefit for the students.

 If you are interested in learning more about peer mediation programs or would like to advocate schools in your community provide the program, the National Association of Peer Mediation Program, Association for Conflict Resolution, and the JAMS Foundation provide excellent online resources at http://www.peermediationonline.org/index.html.