Surprise is one key element. For example, in a story where two people were fighting over a parking space, instead of arguing more, one of them suddenly offered the other a cupcake. It was so unexpected that it immediately diffused the tension.
Here's one. In an office, two colleagues were constantly bickering over the use of the coffee machine. They finally resolved it by creating a coffee schedule with funny doodles on it. It not only stopped the conflict but also made the whole office laugh. Every time they looked at the schedule, they remembered how silly they were being before.
Communication is key. In many success stories, parties involved were able to openly talk about their issues, like in a school where students had a conflict over a club activity. They talked it out and found a way to combine their ideas.
A family had an ongoing conflict between siblings over an inheritance. Instead of fighting in court, they decided to go to mediation. The mediator helped them understand each other's needs and feelings. Eventually, they came up with a creative solution where they divided the inheritance in a way that satisfied everyone. This not only resolved the conflict but also strengthened their family bond.
One way is to make the stories relatable. For example, use characters that are similar to the children in age or situation. When children can see themselves in the story, they are more likely to understand and apply the conflict resolution methods.
The story of 'The Rainbow Fish' is great. The Rainbow Fish has beautiful scales but is very vain and won't share them. As a result, the other fish don't want to be his friend. Eventually, he realizes that sharing his scales makes him happier and he has more friends. It teaches children about the importance of sharing to resolve conflicts.
In a school, two students had a fight over a borrowed book that got damaged. Instead of blaming each other, they sat down and talked. They found out that it was an accident. They decided to share the cost of repairing the book and became friends again.
To teach this, you might have students analyze stories they love and identify the conflicts and resolutions. Then, have them create their own stories with clear conflicts and logical resolutions.
A great conflict resolution story typically has a relatable conflict that engages the readers. The resolution should not be too easy or too contrived. It should show the characters learning and evolving as a result of overcoming the conflict.
Communication. In any conflict resolution story, communication is key. Team members need to be able to talk to each other openly and honestly about their issues. For example, if two people are arguing about a task, they need to communicate what they expect and why.