Provides guidance for parents in dealing with sibling conflicts. Discusses the importance of defusing sibling fights calmly and with humor and love, and the need to stay out of sibling squabbles when possible. Suggestions for guiding children through a problem-solving process include listening, summarizing, examining, and generalizing. (KB)

This guide is designed to teach foster parents, direct care providers, and house parents how to help children develop interpersonal relationship skills. The book focuses on developing the whole child through intellectual, psychological, and moral development. Specific techniques for creating a nurturing environment for children are discussed, as…

This brief paper, in Spanish, discusses the use of mediation as a method for resolving disagreements between schools or early intervention programs and parents of children with disabilities. It identifies benefits of mediation such as maintenance of an ongoing and positive relationship between the school and family, simple resolution of conflicts…

Conflicts over censorship can cause major divisions in schools and communities. Library materials and art work are censors' frequent targets. Parents should do everything possible to help resolve explosive conflicts over censorship should they occur. The best way to handle conflict over censorship is to create school communities that promote open…

This article discusses what is normal and what is not regarding sibling rivalry, jealousy, and squabbling, and it provides some guidance for parents on handling conflict. The article also discusses three major sources of sibling conflict (jealousy, being left alone together, and family trips) and offers suggestions for dealing with each case. (SM)

Two booklets, in English and Spanish, are addressed to families of disabled adults and offer guidelines for establishing an adult relationship with the disabled individual within the family. Stressed are the importance of helping the disabled adult develop a positive self image, learning to truly listen to the adult as part of improving…

This paper is designed to enable disability activists, parents, and advocates to negotiate effectively. It begins by describing negotiations for short-term or long-term changes and different approaches for negotiating. Steps for preparing for negotiation are listed, along with strategies: (1) control the negotiation session; (2) never negotiate…

This booklet, designed for use by Missouri parents and schools, provides information on using mediation as a non-adversarial alternative to resolving disputes in special education. It compares mediation with impartial due process hearings and complaint investigations, and describes the special education mediation process as voluntary for parents…

To examine the dynamism and productive qualities of multicultural interaction, a chromosomal bivalency model was borrowed from the biological sciences. Dilemmas inherent in contact between cultures emerge from the sites of multicultural conflict. Understanding these dilemmas allows interactants to have insights into other cultures as well as into…

This document offers families the tools for handling conflict. Conflict is a normal and unavoidable part of life. We cannot avoid conflict, but we can learn to "fight fair," attacking the problem and not the person. Weapons that attack people and not problems are listed as fouls, destructive habits that can be changed. Fighting fair…

This booklet is intended to help parents and teacher activists think critically about the problem of violence in their schools and about how to respond. The booklet offers a framework for analyzing violence prevention programs that may already be in place in the schools, and it provides ideas for improving programs or starting new ones. The…

Instructional materials on parenting skills for parents of adolescents are provided, with teaching guides for extension service agents. Organized as a series of five leaflets followed by five corresponding lessons, leaflets for parents concern: (1) a review of parenting skills and an overview of the course of instruction; (2) evolution:…

This facilitators' handbook is intended primarily for use in workshops for parents and teachers involved in cooperative preschools. The handbook provides practical resources for anyone working in a group setting, and is designed with the aim of developing learners' skills in leadership and group activities. After introductory information, chapter…

With so many complex, challenging, and emotionally charged decisions involved, participating in an IEP meeting can seem like navigating through a minefield. But now there is a practical guide to managing these meetings with a high level of awareness, safety, and confidence. Developed for administrators, teachers, resource professionals, and…

This monograph brings together information on school safety trends, policies, and projects from various countries around the world. It has been written for school principals, superintendents, administrators, boards of governors, school-parent bodies, and others in leadership positions who are concerned about school safety issues. It discusses the…