PinnedTeaching with D&D: Why You and Your Kids Should Play Dungeons & DragonsI grew up playing card games and board games like Monopoly, Yahtzee, Clue and Life. What was supposed to be “Wholesome family gaming,” had us gathered around the table trying to dominate, destroy and mostly win. Then arcade and home video games appeared, ushering in a new gaming era. I…Dungeons And Dragons3 min readDungeons And Dragons3 min read
May 20, 202211 ways to support neurodivergent players at your D&D gaming tableEveryone’s needs are different and understanding someone’s needs takes time and cannot be fully understood from a written survey response. The best way to support neurodivergent players at your table is through good communication. If your players are kids, then the parents of your players will often be incredibly helpful…Neurodiversity7 min readNeurodiversity7 min read
May 16, 2022D&D for Kids — How many options are “a ton of options”!?!When I run shot “1-shot” games (games that are short — only 3 hours,) my players use pre-generated characters. There is always a little disappointment because they do not get to create their own characters. We use pre-generated characters to save time so we can get right to playing rather…Education5 min readEducation5 min read
May 16, 2022D&D and the Satanic Panic — Are my kids ok, really?What happened? Why was Dungeons & Dragons (D&D) associated with a Satanic Panic? Yes, your kids are ok playing Dungeons & Dragons (D&D). No, they will not be drawn into demonic worship through the game. But the Satanic Panic around D&D was real. I was late to start playing (D&D)…Education8 min readEducation8 min read
May 9, 2022Teaching with D&D: D&D for Kids — Art Lesson #5My favorite trip as a school teacher was when I brought my class to the Philadelphia Art Museum. The enjoyment of seeing and creating art is a skill some would say. Where is better to learn that skill outside of school? The Philly Art Museum!! Actually, most major museums have…Education4 min readEducation4 min read
Apr 29, 2022Teaching with D&D: D&D for Kids — Science Lessons? #4D&D mostly takes place in a world of fantasy where dragons roam the skies and magic is real. Can we bring science teaching into our games? Yes, but there is no need as science is already present on many levels. Every weapon needs to be forged. Through extensive travel different…Dungeons And Dragons4 min readDungeons And Dragons4 min read
Apr 11, 2022Teaching with D&D: Stealthy Social Studies Lesson Plan #3The boss battle is about to happen, so let’s swing back into a social studies lesson. The transition into this lesson can naturally occur during a moment when you are asking one of your student-players to summarize what has happened so far in the adventure. Our adventure started as a…Education3 min readEducation3 min read
Apr 7, 2022Teaching with D&D: D&D Strengthens Kid’s Social Emotional Learning (SEL)Dungeons & Dragons (D&D) can be an important tool used to enhance your kid’s social and emotional learning (SEL). As a collaborative group storytelling game, it presents many opportunities for personal growth. D&D allows players to develop skills to manage emotions, achieve personal and collective goals through empowerment, resolve conflicts…Parenting3 min readParenting3 min read
Apr 4, 2022Uhh Ohhhh……My Kid is a Murder Hobo!?!Tabletop gaming, Dungeons and Dragons (D&D) in particular, uses the term “murderhobo” to refer to a player who kills non-player characters and property indiscriminately to the extent that they ignore the story line of the game and all group goals. The game’s story takes the backseat to all fighting and…Parenting4 min readParenting4 min read
Mar 28, 2022The Best Ultimate Guide to Running Dungeons and Dragons Games for KidsIs there a best way to run a Dungeons and Dragons (D&D) game for kids? Nope…. That is simply because some players are visual learners, some are auditory learners, some players need manipulatives and many players appreciate a mix. Just like “all students learn differently,” all players learn, experience, and…Parenting5 min readParenting5 min read