Judges’ Children Augment Conflict Resolution Skills

While their parents and older siblings conferred at the Indiana Judicial Family Retreat in the summer of 2000, youngsters six through eleven years old learned more about how to resolve conflicts. Conflicts are an inevitable part of any persons’ life, but judges’ children may experience unusual peer and community challenges when their judicial parent renders a custody decision or criminal sentencing involving schoolmates or friends. Retreat planner Ann Heimann arranged for “Common Ground” of Columbus, Indiana to entertain and educate the children using puppets to explore effective ways of dealing with both conflict and affirmation.