The Kids' Guide to Working Out Conflicts: How to Keep Cool, Stay Safe, and Get Along [Paperback]

Naomi Drew M.A. (Author)

Book Description

Age Level: 10 and up | Grade Level: 5 and up

From taunts and teasing to physical assault, many kids face difficult, even dangerous situations at school, at home, and in the community. How can they avoid conflict and defuse tough situations? Written by a well-known expert on conflict resolution and peacemaking, incorporating the results of a nationwide survey of kids ages 10–15, this book offers practical, realistic answers.

Author Naomi Drew describes common forms of conflict, the reasons behind conflicts, and positive ways to deal with difficult circumstances. Through self-tests and exercises, young people discover whether they are conflict-solvers or conflict-makers. They learn how to stand up for themselves without getting physical, and how to deal with people who don’t want to resolve conflicts in a peaceful way. Includes tips for countering bullying, calming down, lessening stress and tension, letting go of anger and resentment, and eliminating put-downs and other hurtful language.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 6-10–Drew presents effective tools for improving conflict-resolution skills. Survey responses from more than 1000 middle school students provide the basis for her analyses of conflict issues. Scenarios are presented with tips on how to keep calm and become a problem solver. The author encourages readers to identify personal-conflict triggers and practice anger-management techniques that will result in the reduction of stress and a growth in confidence. Common problems, such as misunderstandings and teasing, are addressed, as are the more serious issues of bullying and sexual harassment. Tools such as visualization, relaxation, exercise, and repeating empowering statements build a framework for improving self-control. Boxed facts from cited works and quotes from the survey support the text. An annotated list of print and Web resources, a reproducible "Conflict Solver's Action Plan," and a comprehensive index are helpful features. Cartoon sketches appear throughout. This book would be useful for libraries and for peer-mediation programs. It will help youngsters to develop more mature coping skills and refines the concepts introduced in Gershen Kaufman's Stick Up for Yourself! Every Kid's Guide to Personal Power and Positive Self-Esteem (1999) and Trevor Romain's Bullies Are a Pain in the Brain (1997, both Free Spirit).–Sharon A. Neal, Immaculata University, PA
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Review

"An outstanding contribution. It is not a stretch to believe that if this book were translated into the world's many languages and disseminated all over the globe, today's youngsters would be tomorrow's peacemakers.  It is highly recommended."—Voice of Youth Advocates

"Will help youngsters to develop more mature coping skills."
—School Library Journal

“Naomi Drew has written a wonderful book for kids on how to deal effectively with anger, conflict, stress, and bullying in order to lead a more satisfying, peaceful, resilient life. Her ideas are presented in an easy-to-read style and her suggestions are very practical and achievable. Not only will kids find this book an invaluable resource, but so too will their parents and other caregivers.”—Dr. Robert Brooks, faculty Harvard Medical School, and author of The Self-Esteem Teacher and coauthor of Raising Resilient Children

“Kids will love this approachable book, and guidance counselors will find it the perfect tool to introduce conflict resolution activities.” —Library Media Connection

“Gives kids the skills they need to take much of the sting out of those tender years.”—Teaching K–8

National Parenting Publication Award (NAPPA) Children’s Resources Winner

Honor Award, Skipping Stones Multicultural Magazine, Winner

iParenting Media Awards, Winner

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 10 and up
  
• Paperback: 160 pages
• Publisher: Free Spirit Publishing; 1 edition (March 15, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 157542150X
• ISBN-13: 978-1575421506
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 7.1 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #253,873 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Naomi Drew is recognized around the world for her work in conflict resolution, bullying, and peacemaking. She is the award-winning author of seven books. Her landmark book, Learning the Skills of Peacemaking was one of the first to introduce peacemaking into public education. Hailed as visionary, Ms. Drew's work has enabled families, educators, and kids to live more peacefully on a daily basis. She has been called "a master teacher and a pathfinder in our culture."

Harvard Medical School's, Dr. Robert Brooks, praised Ms. Drew's Kids' Guide to Working Out Conflicts, as "an invaluable resource," and people of all ages attest to durable changes after applying the principles she outlines. Her work has been featured in magazines and newspapers across the United States, including Time, Parents, and The New York Times. She has been a guest on syndicated radio and national TV, and has served as a parenting expert for "Classroom Close-ups," an Emmy-winning public television show.

Naomi Drew is a dynamic speaker who's inspired a diverse range of audiences. With over two decades of experience in the field of peacemaking and conflict resolution, she has worked with thousands of people of every age. Her parenting books, Peaceful Parents, Peaceful Kids and Hope and Healing: Peaceful Parenting in an Uncertain World, have brought the skills of peacemaking to families around the world.

"Peaceful Parents," Ms. Drew's on-line newsletter, has broad international readership, and her website, LearningPeace.com is a valuable resource to families and educators worldwide. A former educator, Ms. Drew has two grown sons, who were raised in accordance with the principles she writes about. Her work is considered cutting-edge because of its relevance, practical nature, and real life usefulness. You can chat with Naomi Drew on Amazon.com.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars How To Resolve Conflict: It's Not Just For Kids, December 5, 2004

By 

Jon Linden (Warren, N.J. United States) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Kids' Guide to Working Out Conflicts: How to Keep Cool, Stay Safe, and Get Along (Paperback)

Ms. Drew's book is NOT just for kids. In the book, she explains how people can resolve conflict by using some simple and elegant techniques. In addition, the book is written for people ages 11 to 114. The book borrows mostly from the practice of Mediation. Mediation is a form of conflict resolution which uses a Neutral Mediator who helps parties come to a mutually acceptable agreement to end their dispute.

The literature of Mediation is filled with academic treatises using legal and Sociological words which make them often difficult for a regular person to read and integrate. Ms. Drew specifically did NOT write that type of book. Her book teaches concepts and methods by which people can help solve problems that are meaningful to them and others.

In doing so, Ms. Drew uses some special writing ability and her vast experience as a recognized expert in Peer Mediation and School Conflict Resolution. She writes her book in a vernacular using regular words to describe what she is telling the reader. She uses ethnic names of all nationalities to convey that all people can do this type of work, and all people are worthy of respect. She most effectively uses real life examples and information that she gathered from her work and from her survey of Middle School children all over the country. And she reaffirms the belief that everyone is hurt by conflict and everyone can help to fix that problem in society.

It is rare that readers come across a book that gives this much affirmation and assistance in regular life, and is suited for virtually all people in such a vast age range. The book is recommended for almost everyone who has an interest in helping reduce the amount of conflict in the world today. Not just big conflicts like wars, but also regular conflicts that we face everyday as people.

This book is truly a fine example of how people can take their own power and help not only themselves, but those all around them. All who have the wish to reduce pain and hurtfulness in society should read this book.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A self-help guide for kids and teens, July 9, 2004

By 

Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Kids' Guide to Working Out Conflicts: How to Keep Cool, Stay Safe, and Get Along (Paperback)

The Kids' Guide To Working Out Conflicts: How To Keep Cool, Stay Safe, And Get Along is a self-help guide for kids and teens to learning basic social skills. From keeping one's cool when teased, to staying safe in threatening situations, dealing with sexual harassment, learning how to disagree and get along, self-tests, conflict logs, and much more. Assorted useful forms for tracking and monitoring one's progress add a useful interactive aspect, and humorous caricatures, stories and survey results from kids themselves, and a friendly, no-nonsense tone enhance the highly palatible and simple to assimilate lessons. Overall, The Kids' Guide To Working Out Conflicts is a practical resource to learning how to deal with real life situations effectively, and highly recommended to readers of all ages.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Great guideline for students in the difficult times in which we live., November 25, 2007

By 

B. A. N. Younger "info seeker" - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Kids' Guide to Working Out Conflicts: How to Keep Cool, Stay Safe, and Get Along (Paperback)

As a guidance counselor, this book, along with the companion version for
instructors provides a good resource to assist students with a major portion
of their problems that prodominately have conflict at the core. This is a
good resource for anyone working with children.