Children who fight| conflict management using Watoto Art dolls

Conflict management through puppetry – A playful way to strengthen communication

Did you know that play is a central part of children's development and learning? Through play, children are given the opportunity to process impressions, understand their emotions, and prepare for life's various challenges.

Using play as a tool for a smoother everyday life is a simple but effective trick that can make life easier for both children and parents.

Play as a help in everyday life

Routines like brushing teeth, getting dressed, meals and bedtime can sometimes feel like challenges, and it's easy to fall into the nagging trap – especially if you're tired yourself. But by making routines concrete and more tangible, we can create a more positive experience for the child. The more senses involved, the better!

Dolls, which represent us humans, are a fantastic tool for facilitating communication with children. They can be used to convey messages, create security, and help the child process difficult situations.

Two effective tricks to facilitate communication and collaboration

1. Make routines more fun with dolls
   When a routine feels overwhelming, pick up a doll and let it "tell" the child what is going to happen. Let the child respond to the doll and interact with it. By communicating through play, the task becomes easier to accept and carry out.

2. Managing conflicts through puppetry
   When two children get into a conflict, pick out two puppets that represent the children. Let them retell the incident through role play and puppetry. Guide the children in finding a solution together. This helps them to put their feelings into words and practice conflict resolution in a safe and playful way.

Summary

Using puppet play to manage everyday routines and conflicts makes communication both more fun and easier for children. Dolls can help strengthen a child's understanding of social contexts, resolve conflicts, and create a safer everyday life.

Try it yourself and discover the power of play!