What are the three best pieces of advice about handling conflict and preventing crime you picked up at the NCPC site? Any other useful ideas or approaches?
The first best piece of advice that one gained from the NCPC site about neighborhood safety is to “set limits on where your children can go in your neighborhood” (National Crime Prevention Council, 2013, par 1). This piece of advice is essential because most parents do not prevent their children from going to dark alleys or places within the neighborhood. They assume that their children are safe since they are just within the neighborhood and nobody can harm them there. This assumption is incorrect because there are a lot of crimes which happen in deserted places in the neighborhood. This advice serves as a reminder and warning to parents, especially of small kids.
The next advice that one appreciates is about keeping the kids connected when they are left alone at home by their parents. It was suggested by NCPC that parents should leave important telephone numbers with their children when they leave them alone. These numbers include the parent’s office numbers, doctor’s office or a neighbor or nearby relative’s number, who can assist their children during emergencies.
The third advice that one considers very relevant is that parents should teach their children to be assertive especially with strangers. Children should be taught how to say no to suspicious strangers and realize when it’s time to run away from these people. They must be taught how to recognize safe from dangerous strangers.
Another useful approach in teaching safety to children is through the help of the schools. Teachers can introduce the topic of safety in the neighborhood or at home through role plays so the children can get a better grasp of the concept. Through guided role plays, the kids will know exactly what to say and do when confronted with a similar situation.
How important is it to "walk in the other person's shoes" when trying to avoid or resolve a conflict? Explain.
It is important to “walk in the other person’s shoes” in avoiding or resolving a conflict because in that way, one will be in a better position to recognize and understand the other person’s point of view. Furthermore, if one puts himself in the shoes of the other, it will expand one’s awareness of where the other person is coming from. It will also divert one’s attention away from his opinions and he will be able to make sense of the arguments of the other party.How do you tend to handle/avoid conflict?
Handling a conflict is very challenging but there are steps on how to handle conflict without making the situation stressful for all parties concerned. The first step that one should practice is to be calm. When one is in control of his emotions, he is in a better position to think and listen clearly. When one allows his anger to rule over him, then the tendency of the other party is to respond by being angry too. If the other party sees that one is in an attacking stance, the other party will most likely put on a defensive stance, which makes it harder to resolve a conflict. It is necessary that both parties and the mediator, if any, be rational and in a compromising mood. Another important attitude that one must have in trying to handle a conflict is that each one should be ready to listen. The conflicting parties should respect the arguments presented by the other party. If there is anything that one does not understand, he can ask a question to clarify it, taking care not to interrupt abruptly the other person talking. Both verbal and non-verbal communication play an important role in resolving a conflict, so both parties must be extra careful in their choice of words and in their behavior.
References
Darlington, R. (2007, April 18). How to resolve conflict. Retrieved from rogerdarlington.co.uk: http://www.rogerdarlington.co.uk/conflict.html
National Crime Prevention Council. (2013). Leaving kids home alone. Retrieved from ncpc.org: http://www.ncpc.org/topics/violent-crime-and-personal-safety/copy_of_home-alone
National Crime Prevention Council. (2013). Neighborhood safety tips for parents. Retrieved from ncpc.org: http://www.ncpc.org/topics/home-and-neighborhood-safety/neighborhood-safety
National Crime Prevention Council. (2013). What to teach kids about strangers. Retrieved from ncpc.org: http://www.ncpc.org/topics/violent-crime-and-personal-safety/strangers
UC San Diego. (2009, December 7). How to handle conflict in the workplace. Retrieved from blink.ucsd.edu: http://blink.ucsd.edu/HR/supervising/conflict/handle.html#
