The focus of the approach is on the development of individual children. Interpersonal negotiation strategies are designed to be sensitive to the role of developmental, relational, and contextual factors. How children think and feel about these strategies is related to their interactions with significant others in the social context. The authors apply the social development approach to children's perspectives on what makes a good school and assess relationships between children and adult views of a good school. Three distinct but related factors that contribute to the development of interpersonal negotiation strategies are identified--ideas, relationships, and context. School-based violence prevention practices, such as peer mediation, are examined. 34 notes