Dungeons and Dragons was released 50 years ago, and quickly fell into the stereotype of being a game for nerds. In the 1980s, DND got swept up in satanic panic. Despite its rough start, DND has been thoroughly enjoyed through the decades, and with the 2023 DND movie, Dungeons and Dragons: Honor Among Thieves, has seen a recent resurgence in interest in players of all ages, with more than 13 million players in the U.S. alone.
DND is a role-playing game, with an adventure set up by the dungeon master (DM) who is both the game’s storyteller and referee. Characters are created by players in a variety of themes, with strengths and weaknesses brought to the table by each. Players move through the story together, with each taking turns acting out their role in the adventure. Players move forward by rolling a 20-sided die to see whether their actions are successful.
Though often thought of as a game for adults, DND is billed for ages 6 and up. A children’s game will tend to be more light-hearted and easier than an adult game, though mixed-ages games are not uncommon.
DND can be a lot of fun, certainly, but among the fun is – you guessed it – learning. Creativity, problem-solving and collaboration as a group are the main features of a DND game. The DM will move obstacles in the path of the adventurers, and brute force is not always a way to get through them. In fact, a group of successful adventurers takes all kinds of characters with different strengths and abilities to move beyond the obstacles. The creativity among the diversity of characters allows problem-solving in the group to prevail.
Another learning opportunity in DND is social-emotional learning. SEL is the process of “developing the self-awareness, self-control and interpersonal skills that are vital for school, work and life success.” Children get an opportunity through DND to build relationships within the game, learning empathy and compassion, and having a testing ground to figure out actions and consequences.
Even therapists are looking into DND as a kind of cognitive behavioral therapy, replacing unwanted behaviors with those that can help a child grow. Children can also view a setting where a therapeutic avatar faces challenges that are hard to talk about in real life but can be addressed within the safe space of the game. Neurodivergent children and other children who may feel challenged to fit in can try out personalities of characters and see what resonates with their own personality.
Because the adventure moves forward through storytelling, children practice their active listening skills, with a reliance on memory. Maps often play a part of the story, and cartography skills grow with the campaign.
Simple math – addition and a bit of multiplication – is a mainstay of DND, with the roll of a 20-sided die determining the outcome of a character’s actions. This simple math is constantly reinforced throughout the adventure.
Though Springfield does not currently have a lot of options for children who wish to play DND, there are a couple suitable for tweens and teens. One is at Stella Coffee and Tea, 1135 W. Governor St. The fourth Saturday of every month from 12:30-2:30 p.m. is game day, with DMs ready to host games for all ages. Owners Rich and Sarah Van Dorn stress that anyone is welcome to play any kind of family-friendly game at their coffeehouse on game day.
The Phoenix Center’s Out on Second, 120 E. Scarritt St., hosts D&D every Wednesday (except the third Wednesday) from 6-8 pm for all ages, including a teen-only group. Out on Second is a place for LGTBQ+ community and allies to meet, and everyone is welcome. A $5 donation is suggested, which covers a meal that is offered (optional) with part of the donation going back to the DMs, used to buy materials for gaming.
Both hosts are neurodivergent-affirming as well.
For younger children, preplanned games can be purchased online to play at home. DMs have ultimate control of the nature of the adventure, which allow an emphasis on science, culture or other topics, making DND ideal as a homeschool unit study.
Not only is DND a fun game filled with learning opportunities, it also opens the door for further exploration of learning subjects such as STEM. As one researcher said, “It’s not difficult to see how collaborative world-building involving storytelling, decision-making, invention, research, calculations, negotiation, role-play and active spatial visualization can stimulate a developing intellect.”
Carey Smith is the parent of a newly minted teen who recently purchased his first set of DND dice.
This article appears in Winter 2024 November 2024.
