What to say to empower children to be actively involved in positive resolutions.

Two boys in the family room. One boy said "No girls in here."

Teacher. (To the girls) "What do you think about that?"

One girl withdraws, one girl remains, looking,  thinking and standing on the edge of the family room.

Boy. "Oh no girls can come in."  He had thought about (how it would feel), or (that he does like girls), or that it is the right thing to do.

The 'non involved' boy heard and learned.

The girl who withdrew heard and learned.

Lots of learning for all in this short incident.

There was no crying, no shouting, no teacher directing the play.

The teacher removed self from absolute control.  The power and decision making was given back to the children.

Have you got a story?