Play Therapy--good games for kids?

[fiatslug]

Our "game closet" at work officially sucks--it's time to hit some garage sales. Any suggestions for good games for kids, up through late adolescence?

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[Therapist4Chnge]

LIFE!

It depends on the age of the child, but the rules aren't that important for this game. It is a great way to talk about 'life'....you'll never finish, or even get that far....but kids are much more apt to talk about things with the guise of a game being present.

If they are younger or MR...don't let them chew/choke on the pieces!

-t

 

[raspberry swirl]

i used to work with developmentally disabled teenage sex offenders (dont ask, its a job i still can't explain), and for some reason, yatzee was a huge hit. i dont know what specific therapeutic values it has, but for some reason, it struck a cord. we played almost every day after lunch. i made some good therapeutic alliances during yatzee ... then again, its possible they just liked shaking the dice up in that little cup ...

 

[lazure]

For younger kids, family dolls (parents, children, grandparents) are great to have them act out family situations or to assess their perceptions of family relationships. Get a doll house if possible. Animal puppets, especially ones that represent different feelings such as tigers and lambs are good too. When I worked in child oncology, I used the toy doctor kit a lot. Chatting during jenga was good too. Also keep a good supply of crayons and paper (and hope they will not draw only Spongebob). Also, toy instruments such as drums are useful.

 

[whopper]

The strategy games are good and IMHO educational such as Civilization.

Problem is though is that they can be addicting.

 

[Therapist4Chnge]

I second the use of puppets, figures, and dolls. These are especially useful when you want to learn about relational issues within a family. I've had children as young as 3-4 years old who have shown me their family dynamics through the use of dolls. I remember one case in particular, the child absolutely nailed the dynamics (controlling father, deferential mother, 'problem' child, 'good' child, etc)....at the age of 4ish.

-t

 

[PsyKardinal]

Dominos, Cards, Monopoly, Checkers, Chess, and pretty much anything.

I think that the reason stuff like dominos, checkers, and yahtzee work so well is not that the game it self has a therapuetic value, but the act of attending to the child and getting down to their level is where you will have the most impact.

jeff

 

[Anasazi23]

Can't go wrong with the SNL Bag-O-glass.

 

[OldPsychDoc]

Can't go wrong with the SNL Bag-O-glass.

Don't forget the Happy Fun Ball!
(Do not taunt the Happy Fun Ball,...)

And what about a nice X-Box and some good ol' first person shooters...? I hear the kids really get into it!

 

[Anasazi23]

Of all the games that I saw the kids play in the child unit, it was the 2-hour PS 2 session that garnered the most attention, by far.

 

[Anasazi23]

Don't forget the Happy Fun Ball!
(Do not taunt the Happy Fun Ball,...)

And what about a nice X-Box and some good ol' first person shooters...? I hear the kids really get into it!

We're dating ourselves, but here goes for those who were a little young:

http://youtube.com/watch?v=SXoKm39vROo

 

[Therapist4Chnge]

We're dating ourselves, but here goes for those who were a little young:

http://youtube.com/watch?v=SXoKm39vROo

One of my fav. skits....mostly because of its pop-culture use.

-t

 

[OldPsychDoc]

One of my fav. skits....mostly because of its pop-culture use.

-t

Yeah, but sadly it's still topical--being dropped by warplanes on Iraq? That was from Desert Storm...

Oh, and everytime I hear Phil Hartman's voice it makes me sad that he's gone.

 

[Therapist4Chnge]

Yeah...Phil Hartman was great. 🙁

I loved him in News Radio and The Simpsons. His SNL was a bit hit and miss, but when he was good...he was GOOD.

-t