Children are better roleplayers than adults. No ifs, ands, or buts about it.
As far back as we have studied development in children, we have learned that it is one of the key ways they learn and grow.
Now it may not be like D&D or some other awesome TTRPG (Tabletop Roleplaying Game), but children have been creating their own stories and games using their imagination for forever!
RPG Benefits For Children
Kids are constantly recreating worlds and games in their heads. They are practically mimics. In these imagined games and adventures, they become heroes, villains and act out various personalities. It allows them to try out different behaviors and interactions.
Early childhood development professionals know roleplaying helps with development in many ways. A ton of research has been done on it. RPGs give kids a chance to work on problem-solving, math, and story-telling abilities, all through the use of their imagination.
Challenges For Running A RPG For Kids
With that said, running an RPG for children can also have challenges such as:
- Short attention spans
- Smaller bladders
- Limited vocabularies
- Struggles with understanding some rules
I am a father of 4, and I have run several games for my kids. And what I have learned is that children are almost always better roleplayers than adults. Grownups are able to picture it in their heads, but kids become fully immersed in any scenario or character. This immersion can lead to amazing adventures together!
You already have the dice, miniatures, D&D books (or whatever system you plan to use). But what’s next? Here are some tips to help you introduce D&D and other RPGs to the next generation of gamers.
Know What They Like
First and foremost, if you are going to play a game with kids make sure you know what things interest them the most. What movies, shows, or video games do they constantly want to watch? Or what do they imagine when they are playing with their toys? Knowing these details are key to creating a fun adventure or campaign that’s interesting to all of them. Nothing hits home with a child like a story or character they already know and love.
Let Them Pick The Genre
There are many different genres for you to run for them. Do they love Pokémon, Star Wars, or Avatar the Last Airbender? Or how about Beyblades, superheroes, and dinosaurs? Whatever it is they love, make sure to seek their opinions. Involving them in the process of what to play helps them get excited and invested in their role.
Adjust your Game Length Based On Them
While adults can play games anywhere from 3-8 hours at a time, children may not be ready for that. Even though they are often the better roleplayers, they lack the mental stamina for those types of sessions.
Instead, plan a game that has 1 to 3 small encounters. One encounter with a big baddie and plenty of opportunities for them to roleplay with NPCs. You may even want to let the NPCs describe the world around them to them. That way they can answer any questions they have. Anything to keep them engaged.
And when DMing such instances, try to keep your descriptions simple. This way they can see the world but are still able to fill in the blanks and ask questions of your NPCs. The last thing you want to do is spend 10 to 20 minutes describing the world. Talking at your young players isn’t going to keep their attention or interest.
Use Maps, Minis, Props, And Other Visual Aids
Having a great imagination is key to good roleplaying. But for kids and adults, combat can quickly become hard to follow. If you can, use battle-maps and props where you are able, to help them visualize everything that is happening. Use an actual bottle with the exact amount of dice in it to represent a healing potion. Or tokens they can cash into re-roll an attack.
It’s one thing to use a sheet of paper to keep track of stuff, but it’s better to have what they need right in front of them. Also, do not feel like you have to tell them who they can use as a mini. Let them pick the model they want to use for their character. They will feel like they have true ownership over their character.
Other Important Things To Do
Everything we covered is key to creating a great experience for your kids and their friends. But for the sake of brevity, I will list some other key items to consider:
- Set some simple ground rules
- Do not be afraid to fudge your dice rolls to improve their experience!
- Help them manage their characters and abilities
- Give great rewards
- Be lenient in punishments
- Let each child shine
Leading a Successful Game For Your Kids
Stay patient and guide them when they ask for it but otherwise, let them lead you down the story they want to take. Once you loosen the reigns, you might be surprised at the whole experience.
Sure, it may not go exactly as you planned, but more than likely it will be even better. Most of all, just have fun!
