Augmenting teachers' understanding of developmental issues affecting conflict resolution curricula

Conflict and aggression affect early childhood and kindergarten classrooms. Children's interactions are affected by their emotional and cognitive development, as well as early socialization and moral development. Non-violent conflict resolution can be taught. Early childhood classrooms are responsible for much socialization. Head Start is an example of an early childhood program whose alumni show long-term benefits because of the positive socialization in the program. In this dissertation, a variety of conflict resolution curricula are examined; Second Step Violence Prevention Program in explored in depth. Since teacher-training programs rarely provide instruction in positive socialization, a teacher workshop on the underlying developmental issues considered in the design of Second Step is presented.