Approaching Fights

While fighting may seem similar to my previous posts , it is actually different from hitting or even bullying. Fighting can include many different forms including making excuses, as a student could be fighting from the truth. Also, temper tantrums, such as making loud noises during class, interrupting the teacher during instructional time, and insulting other classmates are other forms of fighting. Temper tantrums and acting out are fighting the progress of class taking place. Yet another way to conceptualize fighting could be starting an argument. Arguing with other students often leads to elevated emotions and could end in physical fighting, so discouraging bickering will preserve feelings as well as spare potential injuries.

Fighting can make the individual look bad, and the fight could be recorded
and passed around which would be even worse for the situation

Students do not realize when they start fights, problems are typically not solved. The issue will still exist, not to mention learning of the individual and fellow peers is disrupted, and no progress toward a solution is made. Most of the time, fights are escalated from events including messing around, attempting to “be cool” or show off, or mild anger that could evolve into dangerous fighting.

Instead of children creating accidental fights for themselves, we can teach them to manage their emotions and offer practical alternatives to fighting. One of the easiest ways to cool off when getting worked up is deep breathing. Teaching children to close their eyes and take 10 deep breaths when they feel overstimulated is the easiest way to take a step back from a situation and calm down.

Walking away from a fight to cool off can decrease aggression in the moment 

Walking away from the situation and walking off frustration can also diffuse tension in conflicting situations, so letting students know they can ask to be excused from class to cool down or even ask to change seats to move from the tense situation is important. Students also have the right to refuse to fight, and they can learn their voice means something. Suggesting conversation rather than violence can defuse a potentially violent situation, which empowers students to make things happen positively with their words.

However, if all of these alternatives to fighting fail, students should know they can always ask teachers for assistance to abstain from fighting. Teachers can aid students in the previous problem-solving techniques, or direct agitated students to a school counselor or someone else equipped to handle the problem at hand. Fighting often occurs in alternative middle schools, but if students are cognizant of their problem-solving abilities, disputes should decrease. Thanks for reading!