This study investigated the conflict resolution abilities employed by 3-4 year old children within an Israeli kindergarten that was inspired by the Reggio Emilia approach in Italy. Conflict resolution is a significant phenomenon worldwide and the subject of considerable research, due to potential negative outcomes from involvement in conflict, and escalation of the conflict to a stage of violence. Nevertheless, a gap in knowledge was identified, regarding the Reggio Emilia educational approach, as an intervention to support the development of children‘s social-emotional competence to enable them to resolve interpersonal conflicts using pro-social strategies. An in-depth case study was conducted using grounded theory principles to develop a model to answer the question: To what extent might a Reggio Emilia inspired approach support resolution of interpersonal conflicts between 3-4 year old children in an Israeli kindergarten class? The rich qualitative data were gathered through video filmed observations, teacher's semi-structured interviews, children's interviews, documents, and field notes. A four-phase content analysis of the data enabled conceptualisation of the characteristics of the educational setting and the children's conflict resolution strategies. The findings allowed the emergence of a model evidencing that both direct and indirect intervention strategies were used to support the conflict resolution among the children. Teachers responded in a range of ways to children's request for direct intervention, and most especially used a clarification-mediation conversation. Indirectly, they promoted democratic pedagogy with children through participation, listening and dialogue. The findings reveal the children's development in their conflict resolution, which indicate a significant advancement in their pro-social negotiation abilities. Additionally, the findings show a significant increase in the children's spontaneous intervention as peer observers of the conflict and a decrease in their request of teacher intervention. The research suggests that over time, no extra-curricular intervention is needed within a supportive and democratic educational approach, such as the Reggio Emilia inspired approach provides. It illuminates strategies to support teachers, teacher trainers and policy makers for enabling children resolving conflicts independently using pro-social strategies. The research contributes to knowledge regarding selecting an intervention for improving kindergarten children's conflict resolution strategies.

This essay examined how bilingual peace education can promote peaceful behaviours and social integration among otherwise segregated Arab- Israelis and Jewish- Israelis. By using The School for Peace at Neve Shalom/ Wahat al-Salam as a case study, accompanied with Jürgen Habermas theory of communicative action and New institutionalism with a conflict critical approach, we observed the behavioural mechanisms of institutions and social interactions. The empiric data consisted of three interviews conducted by author Nava Sonnenschein from the book The Power of Dialogue between Israelis and Palestinians. The interviewed students from The School for Peace had experienced both conventional education and bilingual peace education in adulthood. We found that informal values and narratives in educational institution influence the behaviours of its students. We also found that interactions between Arab- Israelisand Jewish- Israelis in the context of bilingual peace education promoted recognition of commonalities. While conventional education generally formed hostile behaviours and segregating incitements, the bilingual peace education gave opportunities for interactions and acknowledgement of both ethnic groups; consequently, leading to self-reflection, mutual understanding, peaceful behaviours and social integration.