Conflict prevention and conflict resolution working with children in pre primary settings.

Project summary

This study is in its first phase and linked to a Comenius project called CRIPSIE (Conflict Resolution In Primary Schools In Europe) We will study very young children's behaviour and cooperation in two kindergartens in Bergen. We focus on selected children's play and social skills. Our research method is observation. We will discuss our findings and understanding with staff in the relevant departments of the kindergartens. We also link our project to the present discussions about bullying in kindergartens. Can some of the conflicts we observe be defined as bullying? We will present our findings and observations at workshops abroad with students and colleagues. In the second phase of this project we plan to develop the discussions and comments from students and collegues from the CRIPSIE project in a comparative perspective. Our theory background is based on social development theories and methods (Kari Lamer and William Damon) and anti bullying programmes (Dan Olweus) and literature on the very youngest children in kindergarten (The Toddler peer culture by Gunvor Løkken)