School vacations can bring more time for children to be together, which often leads to more arguments over toys, screen time, space, and parental attention. With less structure and more time at home, conflicts are common, and parents may find themselves mediating these disagreements. However, research suggests that allowing children to work through their own conflicts with minimal adult intervention can be beneficial. This process helps them develop essential life skills, such as resolving disputes and understanding others' perspectives. Adults should remain nearby and available during conflicts but avoid stepping in every time. Immediate intervention is only necessary if there's a risk of harm or if the situation becomes one-sided. In such cases, guiding children toward appropriate communication can be helpful. When involved in a dispute, adults should avoid acting as judges or assigning blame. Instead, the focus should be on helping children build empathy and conflict-resolution skills. Each child is unique, and there is often more to a conflict than just who is “right” or “wrong.” Understanding a child’s feelings rather than focusing on the facts of the situation can be more effective. For example, one child might feel upset about an unfair situation, while another might be overly excited during a game. Rather than demanding an immediate apology, it can be more helpful to ask each child to describe what happened and validate their feelings. The role of adults is to acknowledge that all perspectives and emotions matter, rather than making a judgment or decision. If children are too upset to talk, it can be better to pause the activity and revisit the discussion when everyone is calmer. If conflicts happen frequently or are tied to a particular activity, setting up a “break” activity in advance can help ease tensions. The most important part of this process is returning later to complete the discussion when emotions have settled—this is when the real learning takes place. When children come up with solutions themselves, they are more likely to follow them. Parents can also model good conflict resolution by admitting their own mistakes and showing how to apologize, which teaches children that it is safe to be vulnerable and that making amends is acceptable.