Playground Leadership and Peer Mediation Program
OBJECTIVES:
- make the playground a fairer and safer place for children
- reduce the incidences of bullying
- empower children with conflict resolution skills
- create an ethos of tolerance and respect in the school community
- encourage & develop positivity, good communication & problem solving skills in children.
- help children in the forming and keeping of friendships
BUZ Rangers is a program that is offered to schools as part of the “Build-Up Zone” approach to social skills and pastoral care.
Nurture Works staff are available to attend schools and train teachers and students in Playground Leadership and Peer Mediation and help the school set up the “BUZ Rangers” program.
BUZ Rangers is more than just a program, it creates a culture i.e. a “Build-Up Zone”.
PEER MEDIATION DEFINITION:
Peer mediation is a process that enables children to solve conflicts or fights with the assistance of a third person or persons “mediator” to assist them in finding an agreeable solution that creates a win-win situation.
Peer Mediation is:
· Voluntary (no child should be forced into it)
· Agreed to by both parties (or it won’t work)
· Confidential (unless there are safety or legal issues)
· Focuses on the future (looks forward positively)
· Has a no blame approach (resolution is limited when blame is apportioned)
· Does not promote punishment or revenge (It is a positive form of discipline)
Peer Mediation & the school MSB & Discipline Policy:
Peer mediation is complimentary.
If children are in dispute or have had a fight they could be offered the choice of sorting it out (resolving it) through the mediation process.
If they are prepared to work towards a peaceful win/win resolution of conflict there is no need for consequences to be applied.
Discipline:
Discipline is far more effective when it helps a child choose right from wrong rather than forcing them to act in a certain way.
Discipline should help a child to learn what is the ‘right’ thing to do. If a child learns to resolve conflict in peaceful ways this is a desired outcome that punitive forms of discipline have limitations in achieving.
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