Role-Play: How to “Make Up”

Brainstorm: Talk with your child about ways that friends can “make up” after hurting each other’s feelings, such as apologizing, inviting someone to join a game, or making a card. On poster board, make a list of positive ways to resolve conflicts and show you’re sorry. You might include sentence starters for talking about feelings, for example:

I felt _____ when you ______.

I apologize for _______.

Start a story: Tell your child a story about two friends who are not getting along. (You can use a story from a book or one that you make up.) Stop the story before the characters make up.

Create a resolution: Let your child invent their own ending to the story. He can write it out, draw pictures or tell you out loud. Encourage him to use his list of positive ways to express feelings and resolve conflict.

Role-play: Have your child act out the new ending.

Finish the story: Share with your child the original ending to the story. Discuss how the characters felt, and why their feelings caused them to act as they did.