A–Z Glossary

conflict repair

Communication repair is the process of addressing misunderstandings, clarifying expectations, and helping a child safely re-enter a learning relationship.

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Losing friends and coping kids

Losing friends and coping kids

Why friendship loss can hurt so much Children are not overreacting when a friendship ends badly. In peer relationships in child development, friendships are central practice for cooperation, identity, and emotional safety. A breakup can therefore feel like rejection of the self, not just the loss of a playmate or lunch partner. Children also have […]

How kids handle disagreements

How kids handle disagreements

Why disagreements are part of normal development Children are learning how to be separate people while still staying connected to others. That developmental task creates friction. A child may want the same toy, the same seat, the same turn, or the same attention as someone else, and the resulting disagreement is often a first lesson […]

Managing sibling relationships

Managing sibling relationships

Why sibling relationships matter Siblings are more than playmates or rivals. They are a developmental context in which children repeatedly rehearse social behavior, observe one another’s coping style, and learn how family power works. Studies of childhood and adolescence suggest that sibling relationships can shape adjustment, behavior, academic functioning, and later relationship skills. A warm […]

Digital communication skills kids

Digital communication skills kids

What digital communication skills mean for children Digital communication skills kids need are broader than knowing how to tap, swipe, or send an emoji. They include receptive language, expressive language, pragmatic language, social cognition, emotional regulation, attention control, and safety judgment. A child must learn not only what a message says, but how it may […]

Teaching children that friendship does not require constant agreement

Teaching children that friendship does not require constant agreement

Why disagreement is part of friendship Children are still learning how to manage desire, fairness, and frustration. That means even close friends will sometimes want different games, different rules, or different turns. Research on middle childhood shows that conflict can be a normal feature of friendship, and it may even happen more often among friends […]

Jealousy between friends and how children can manage it

Jealousy between friends and how children can manage it

Why jealousy shows up between friends Jealousy is a normal emotion in childhood. In friendships, it often appears when a child believes that attention, closeness, or belonging is being taken away. The feeling can be triggered by a friend spending time with someone new, choosing another playmate, or sharing something private with another child. From […]

Group and cooperative games for kids

Group and cooperative games for kids

What makes a game cooperative? In cooperative games for children, the group usually wins or loses together. That shared outcome changes the social task: children must coordinate, listen, and adjust to one another rather than simply trying to outperform peers. The game may be a board game, a movement game, a building challenge, or a […]

Relationships in school environment

Relationships in school environment

Why school relationships matter School is a major social and neurodevelopmental setting. Children practise attention, emotional regulation, perspective-taking, cooperation, and problem-solving through repeated interactions. A predictable, respectful relationship with an adult can help a child feel safe enough to ask questions, tolerate mistakes, and return to learning after disappointment. Peer relationships provide a different but […]

Teacher student relationships and communication in school

Teacher student relationships and communication in school

Why teacher-student relationships matter A child learns most effectively when the classroom feels psychologically safe enough for curiosity, effort, and occasional failure. A teacher who greets students, listens attentively, explains expectations, and responds without humiliation communicates that each child has dignity and belongs in the learning community. Research reviewed in the educational and psychological literature […]