Family Engagement

At St Joseph’s Mernda, we understand that disagreements are a normal part of growing up. Whether it is deciding on the rules of a game, sharing equipment or navigating a friendship, children are learning how to manage different opinions and respond when things do not go as planned. These everyday moments provide opportunities to teach children how to communicate respectfully and care for their relationships.

Respectful problem-solving involves expressing feelings and needs, listening to another person’s perspective, and finding a safe and fair way forward. This is a skill that children develop over time, with support from trusted adults. Just like learning to read or solve a maths problem, learning how to work through disagreements takes patience, modelling and practice.

At school, we support students to use respectful words, take turns speaking and listen to understand. Through our Respectful Relationships learning, children explore how their words and actions affect others. This may include practising phrases such as, “I felt upset when…”, “Please stop, I don’t like that,” or “Can we find a way that works for both of us?”

When children are upset, they may not be ready to hear another perspective or solve the problem straight away. In these moments, adults can help by supporting children to feel safe and settle before discussing what happened. Once children are ready, staff can help them explain their experience, consider who has been affected and identify what needs to happen next.

Repairing relationships is an important part of this process. A meaningful apology includes understanding the impact of our actions and taking steps to make things right. This might involve checking whether someone is okay, helping rebuild something that was damaged, replacing an unkind comment with respectful words, or agreeing on how to handle the situation differently next time. Rebuilding trust can take time.

Families can support this work at home by helping children talk through everyday disagreements. This might include listening to their experience, acknowledging their feelings and gently encouraging them to consider another perspective. Helpful questions might include, “What happened?”, “How do you think the other person felt?” and “What could you do to help make things right?” Children should also know that they can seek adult help whenever they feel unsafe or a problem keeps happening.

It is also important for children to see adults modelling respectful communication and repair. When adults listen, disagree calmly, acknowledge mistakes and offer sincere apologies, children learn practical ways to manage conflict. A simple statement such as, “I was frustrated and spoke sharply. I’m sorry. Let me try again,” shows children how to take responsibility and reconnect.

By working together, home and school can help children approach disagreements with confidence, empathy and respect. Each opportunity to listen, communicate and make things right helps children build stronger relationships and contribute to a school community where everyone feels safe, valued and heard.