Amidst the active and adventurous play outdoors there are so many opportunities for children to be involved in positive resolutions.

A child was swinging a saw in the sandpit.

Teacher: That's a saw.  What do you know about saws?

Child: For cutting. (And the child took the saw to the right place.)

Very few words were said.  The child knew what to do.

Child: he's chasing us and we don't like it.

Teacher: What can you do?

Child: Tell him. (And ran off)

Child: He's trying to put me in jail.

Teacher: What do you think?

Child: Tell him, but he wants to put me in jail.

Teacher: Are you going to jail?

Child to jailer: Don't put me in jail otherwise I won't like it.

Child threw a bucket on another child's back.

Teacher:  That's a bucket. What do you know about a bucket?

Child put the bucket in the right place.

Child: He's fighting.

Teacher: What do you think?

Child said nothing.

Teacher: What do you know about fighting?

Child: Going somewhere else.

While I think that telling the offender is important, choosing to play somewhere else is a valid way to keep safe. This  child is new to our kindergarten. He chose to go away, and this method worked.

Child:  Jimmy won't let us up.

Teacher: You can tell him that you can go up.

Child: But Jimmy always hits people.

Teacher:  Jimmy knows about being kind to people.

Jimmy's self image will benefit by hearing he is a positive learner.

These interactions all occurred within minutes outdoors.

Some children are experienced and know what to say and do.

Some are still learning, so different layers of guidance are given by teacher.

All self images remain intact. Including my own.

No voices were raised, no blood pressure was raised.

All children are safe in their learning.