In our San Mateo camps, we have seen some of the most powerful examples of peer mentorship and conflict resolution that the Kidizens model produces.
When children govern their own LEGO cities, disagreements are inevitable. Who controls the budget? Where should the park go? Should we build apartments or houses? These are real debates with real stakes — at least within the world of the city they are building together.
Our facilitators guide children through these conflicts without resolving them. Instead, children learn to negotiate, compromise, and find solutions that respect different perspectives. These are the resilience and leadership skills that will serve them for a lifetime.