 The Young Peacemaker is a powerful system that parents and teachers can use to teach children how to prevent and resolve conflict in a constructive and biblically faithful manner.
The system emphasizes principles of confession, forgiveness, communication, and character development, and uses realistic stories, practical applications, role plays, and stimulating activities.
Although the material is designed for 3rd through 7th grades, it has been successfully used with pre-school and high school students.
The lessons in The Young Peacemaker may be summarized in Twelve Key Principles for Young Peacemakers:
- Conflict is a slippery slope.
- Conflict starts in the heart.
- Choices have consequences.
- Wise-way choices are better than my-way choices.
- The blame game makes conflict worse.
- Conflict is an opportunity.
- The Five A's can resolve conflict.
- Forgiveness is a choice.
- It is never too late to start doing what's right.
- Think before you speak.
- Respectful communication is more likely to be heard.
- A respectful appeal can prevent conflict.
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The Young Peacemaker
Corlette Sande
Parent/Teacher Manual &
12 Student Activity Booklets
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The Slippery Slope
The Young Peacemaker uses a simplified version of the Slippery Slope to help children understand the various responses to conflict. The slope is divided into three zones:
- The Escape Zone: Deny, Blame Game, and Run Away
- The Attack Zone: Put Downs, Gossip, Fight
- The Work-It-Out Zone: Overlook, Talk-It-Out, and Get Help
To see an illustration of this diagram, see page 3 of the sample Student Activity Book.
The Five A's of Confession
Children, like adults, can learn to confess their wrongs in a way that demonstrates that they are taking full responsibility for their contribution to a conflict.
- Admit what you did wrong.
- Apologize for how your choice affected the other person.
- Accept the consequences.
- Ask for forgiveness.
- Alter your choice in the future.
Four Promises of Forgiveness
Children can learn to forgive one another in a way that models the forgiveness they have received from God through the gospel of Jesus Christ:
- I promise I will think good thoughts about you and do good for you.
- I promise I will not bring up this situation and use it against you.
- I promise I will not talk to others about what you did.
- I promise I will be friends with you again.
These promises may be summarized in a poem that is so easy a four-year old can memorize it:
- Good thought
- Hurt you not
- Gossip never
- Friends forever.
For more thoughts on forgiveness for Children, see Corlette's article "The Four Promises of Forgiveness."
Click Student Activity Books to see the covers of the twelve booklets children love to read, including one complete sample booklet.
Click Endorsements to see what Christian leaders have said about The Young Peacemaker and for a review of the book.
Click A Word from the Author to read about the basic convictions behind this material.
Click True Stories to read stories and testimonies from both adults and children who have used this material.
Click Bookstore to learn how you can order this material to use with your children.
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