CONFLICT THESAURUS

A PROBLEM AT A CHILD'S SCHOOL



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HELPFUL TIP:

Conflict is your story’s secret sauce, supplying tension, friction, and complications to a character’s journey. It comes in a million different forms, so identify the obstacles and problems that will hit your character the hardest by using the Character Builder to uncover their primary insecurities, fears , and desires. Don’t forget to include everyday conflict scenarios that will frustrate them and keep the pressure high.
CATEGORY:
Duty and Responsibility, relationship friction, failures and mistakes, power struggles, ego-related conflict

NOTES:
Every parent wants their child to do well—for a variety of reasons, from desiring what's best for them to not wanting to be personally inconvenienced. So when the character gets a call from the school, tensions automatically rise. Consider the following scenarios that could cause conflict for your character should their child be involved.

EXAMPLES:
Getting into a fight
Bullying others or being bullied
Getting caught with drugs, alcohol, a weapon, pornography, or some other forbidden item
Sending or receiving inappropriate text messages at school
Posting something inappropriate about another student on social media
Being truant or repeatedly tardy to class
Failing to complete assignments or participate in class
Disrupting the learning environment 
Disrespecting a teacher or another staff member
Violating the dress code policy
Leaving the classroom or campus without permission
Getting caught being intimate with another student
Using school technology inappropriately
Failing to demonstrate mastery of curricular objectives
Sharing information that forces the school to summon child protective services

MINOR COMPLICATIONS:
Missing work to meet with the school or stay home with a suspended child
Having to drive the child to and from school
Having to punish a child for their behavior at school
Difficulty getting the child to go to school (if they're a victim of bullying or are fearful)
Trying to get to the bottom of a child's misbehavior
Struggling to be able to pay for formal evaluations and testing
Having to find helpful resources to support the child
The parent being embarrassed by their child's behavior
Facing criticism from other parents

POTENTIALLY DISASTROUS RESULTS:
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RESULTING EMOTIONS:
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POSSIBLE INTERNAL STRUGGLES:
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PEOPLE WHO COULD BE NEGATIVELY AFFECTED:
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NEGATIVE TRAITS THAT COULD MAKE THE SITUATION WORSE:
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IMPACT ON BASIC NEEDS:
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WOUNDS THIS COULD LEAD TO:
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POSITIVE TRAITS TO HELP THE CHARACTER COPE:
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POSITIVE OUTCOMES:
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