Replay arguments with stuffed animals

Step by step

1. 1Wait until everyone is completely calm: never in the heat of the moment, ideally later in the day.
2. 2Set up two stuffed animals, one for each role: “Bear wanted the truck, and Bunny took it.”
3. 3Act out the scene yourself first with the toys, keeping it accurate without blaming anyone. If your child gets defensive, pack it away and try again another day.
4. 4Have your child play Bear, THEN Bunny: experiencing both sides of the argument is the heart of the game.
5. 5Ask along the way: “How is Bear feeling right now? What about Bunny?” Name the emotions without judging.
6. 6Come up with two or three different endings together and act them out. Wrap up gently: “Shall we try it like Bear next time?”

What it builds

Replaying a squabble with stuffed animals lets your child look at it from a safe distance without feeling blamed—it was Bear who did it, not them. With that distance, they can finally understand what the other person felt and practice better ways to react, free of shame.