Managing conflict effectively is about creating an atmosphere where violence and aggression are not likely. To resolve conflict means using empathy, problem-solving skills, understanding other points of view and coming up with ways to make things right in a fair way. Peace is more than the absence of conflict and violence. It is recognizing and acting on the worth of self, others and our interconnectedness as humans.

Learning to solve problems peacefully involves many social and emotional skills including the ability to encode, interpret and reason about social-emotional information. Solving problems peacefully is critical to the development of positive peer relationships which in turn have longlasting implications for school achievement and social-emotional development. Children who have better social and emotional skills have better social interactions and as a result, better peer relationships.

Learning how to deal with conflict is important for children and youth so that they can successfully develop and maintain relationships with peers and adults.