” it’s sudden loud noise, and kids really hurting each other “
Ah, my favorite senario, as I’ve been in (in my younger days) and presided over (in my not so younger days) dozens of them.
* Step one: Separate the warring factions
* Step two: Ask each one how THEY would solve the problem, if it were up to them
* Step three: make sure they understand that this rational will be applied to them the next time (and there’s always a next time) there’s a flair-up.
* Step four: Ask each side if they’d like to consider a “compromise” which would also be applied next time around (this helps them understand the cause/effect concept)
Of course, nothing works if things are at the melt-down stage. Then, the only thing you can do is take one of the sides into another room, press the “re-set” button, and tackle the issue the next day. Just be sure you’re taking each side for the same number of “re-sets” so one one feels like their being singled out for punishment.
(and no, don’t resort to the “tie you to a tree” tactic.. not yet, anyways 😉