The Exit Strategy

When children are too escalated for problem-solving, call a reset: take five minutes in different spaces, then come back. Frame it as calming the room, not punishment.

The critical follow-up: after the break, return to the problem. Do not let it dissolve into silence. Coming back teaches that conflicts get resolved, not buried. "Okay, you've both had time to cool down. Let's talk about what happened." The follow-through is where the learning happens.