Conflict has an effect on the brain that is felt in our bodies, emotions and behaviours, but is not always recognised. Frequent conflict in the home or in an educational setting can damage relationships and become a barrier to learning. Improving practitioners’ understanding, and the understanding of learners and their families, of emotional needs and how to improve relationships, could promote engagement in learning, improve educational outcomes, and may ultimately transform lives.

The Scottish Centre for Conflict Resolution (SCCR), funded by Scottish Government, have developed free digital resources and professional learning to support practitioners to help children and young people understand difficult emotions, regulate mood, and improve their relationships with others. The resources focus on learning as a means of early intervention. The resources include activities for classes, groups, or for one-to-one discussion.

Professional learning and resources

SCCR Teachers Pack (downloadable facilitators pack)

SCCR Learning resources (downloadable lesson plans, presentations and resources)

This digital resource tells the story of how our brains interpret the world around us and how this translates in our bodies, emotions and behaviours. It has been designed to be used by professionals working with secondary aged young people interested in learning more about the science of conflict and boosting their wellbeing. The resources however could be adapted and to be used with primary children.

This resource is divided into four sections:

• My Brain: 3 information presentations about how brain development affects young people, with a close look at how early years parenting can feed into ‘attachment styles’ and trauma.
• My Emotions: 3 information presentations to help recognise emotions in themselves and others; discover how to as well as more on regulation and primary and secondary emotions
• My Wellbeing: 3 information presentations explaining how we can help young people to discover practical coping skills that can help them to process emotions, while empowering families to develop their own coping skills.
• Our Relationships: 3 information presentations outlining how arguments can damage relationships. Learning to listen and to communicate better and to use conflict approaches can end arguments well – and improve lives.

Some comments from learners and school staff about the resources:

“I think it is something everyone can benefit from.”
Pupil, Inveralmond High School

“Really enjoyed this lesson on conflict. Fun activities and very informative!”
Teacher, Inveralmond High School

‘It helped me understand my emotions.’
Pupil, St John’s High School, Dundee

‘This is our absolute dream kind of resource, [one] that is all there visually.’
Teacher, St Joh’s High School, Dundee

“I enjoyed learning how to cope with emotions”
Pupil, Crieff High School

“There’s loads of scope, I found it really really enjoyable. It was a bit of a breath of fresh air cause it’s just something different and new and I think that’s where the engagement is.”
Teacher, Crieff High School

Further learning and teaching resources on Conflict and the Brain

See the SCCR Resource Hub and Learning Zone for Young People for digital and printable learning and teaching resources linked to the Experiences and Outcomes within Responsibility of All - see SCCR Resource booklet (PDF). The resources include:

• The Cranial Cocktail
• Monkey vs Lizard
• Keep the Heid
• The Three Brains

The following film describes these resources and how they can be used in educational settings:

FILM: Understanding conflict and emotional needs to transform relationships and lives (youtube.com)

Schools can also access free facilitated Professional Learning available through the SCCR website.

Improvement questions

• How do I understand relationships and emotions and their impact on behaviour and learning?
• How am I helping learners understand relationships, emotions and behaviour and their impact on wellbeing and learning?
• What support and information can I signpost learners and their families to?