Social distancing during the pandemic and the reintegration of social norms in the following years made many of us acutely aware of how important it is to interact with each other. If you’re trying to find ways to stay connected to peers, an old classic group activity is seeing a resurgence and may be right for you. I’ll share a little about how TTRPGs can be used in therapy groups for general mental health and well-being and how to tell if this approach could be a good fit for anyone. Additionally, these games can be used to connect to communities, find friends, explore new identities, and strengthen existing community bonds.
What Happens in a TTRPG Group?
Tabletop Role Playing Games are a little bit of a “choose your own adventure” book that has come to life. Each player in the game creates a character with unique strengths, weaknesses, and magical powers. These characters work together to navigate a fantasy world, solve problems, and get up to mischief and adventure.
Rather than following a pre-set story or rules, players make up their own story as they go. They’re helped in this by a “Dungeon Master” who acts as a referee and emcee in the game. The dungeon master sets the scene for the players, gives them problems to solve, and helps them build a magical world. A roll of the dice determines how successful the player is at whatever they’re trying to do, which adds an element of surprise to the game.
TTRPGs are collaborative, not competitive, requiring creative problem-solving. This makes it an excellent fit for therapy groups, and therapists nationwide have started incorporating Tabletop Games into group therapy sessions with kids and adults. TTRPGs such as Dungeons and Dragons are a great way to meet new people, practice communication and teamwork, and experience the satisfaction of learning a new skill.
Are TTRPGs for you?
The name “Dungeons and Dragons” sounds a little…sinister. It conjures up images of a game heavy on gore and may not be suitable for children. You aren’t alone if this is your reaction when you first heard about the game. Just like hip hop or rock in the past and video games, there was some controversy in the 80s about whether D&D was too violent for kids.
Name aside, there is nothing inherently age-inappropriate about most tabletop games for kids and nothing inherently uncomfortable for adults. The game is all about imaginative play, and it doesn’t even have to include dungeons or dragons: stories have been set in all sorts of extraordinary, child-friendly fantasy worlds, from outer space to fairy forests to fantasy worlds inspired by Studio Ghibli movies.
Because the game is fully customizable, it’s up to every group to decide what content is okay and what is not and how to handle violence.
Today, we know that there are many ways in which role-playing games support child development. Gameplay requires math and reading skills, encourages teamwork and turn-taking, and lets kids see the world through someone else’s perspective.
This helps develop empathy and contributes to identity-building through pretend play. TTRPGs promote positive social skills that kids can apply to the game and their day-to-day lives.
These same concepts apply to adults, especially neurodivergent adults who need extra structure and social skill-building activities. All people require positive interaction, cooperation, and community-building connections from playing a game together.
This is something that Dungeons and Dragons excels at, providing the proper group and a Dungeon Master who takes the time to develop a positive environment for their players.
How Old Do Kids Need to Be to Play Tabletop Games?
12 is the ideal recommended age to start playing. The rules can be complicated, and kids need to be able to think abstractly to enjoy playing the game. In my group, I work with a mix of teenagers and adults.
The right age to start playing depends a lot on your child. Suppose your elementary school-aged kid has played games for years and is a fantasy story fan. In that case, she may be ready to dive into TTRPGs.
It’s also possible to simplify the game’s rules to accommodate younger players, which can be a fun option for families with mixed-age kids who want to play the game together. There are many specific role-playing games tailored to simplified rules for younger players.
Who Is a Good Fit for Tabletop Gaming Groups?
So, what kind of person might enjoy playing? Is it only for folks already into nerd culture? Is it better for extroverts or introverts? What about those who have never played the game before—could they figure it out in a group setting?
The only skills you need to be a great player are imagination, creativity, and a willingness to play.
Here are a few signs or traits that you or your friends and family might be an excellent fit for a TTRPGs group:
- You love getting lost in fantasy worlds like Harry Potter, Lord of the Rings, or Star Wars.
- You’re a “theater kid” who enjoys acting or performing.
…or, on the flip side,
- You are shy and would love to make new friends but aren’t sure how to reach out to new people.
- You are imaginative and were always great at pretend play.
- You would like an opportunity to practice teamwork, verbal communication, and taking turns.
- Could you use the self-esteem boost that comes from mastering and succeeding at a new activity?
Extraverts and introverts can excel at TTRPGs if they step outside their comfort zone to play with new friends. The first step is always the hardest, but the benefits are many, and the friendships formed can be enriching.
Bringing the family together!!!
At its heart, table-top role-playing games, or TTRPGs like Dungeons and Dragons, are cooperative storytelling, meaning the players work together to achieve their goals. The players learn how to cooperate rather than compete.
For families, finding ways to work together to come up with clever ideas to save the day can be wonderful. It’s such a confidence boost for one of the children’s characters to come in and heroically save the characters of the rest of the family.
Another wonderful thing about playing tabletop games is the memories they make. When we discuss the memories we made around the gaming table, we recall them in first person, meaning, “Do you recall that time we saved a village from goblins?” rather than “Do you recall that game where our characters saved a village from goblins?” These memories we make at the gaming table feel real and allow us to travel and have epic adventures without ever leaving the kitchen table.