Parenting with Role-playing games, from the Blog turned book - Geek Dad

For father's day, my terrific girlfriend gave me an excellent book, initially meant partially as a gag, but really quite wonderful for me because of the combination of my being a single parent of 3 boys, a techie, a role playing gamer, running an RPG Research project on the therapeutic aspects of role-playing games ( http://www.rpgresearch.com ) and someone slowly working towards degrees in recreation and music therapies, this book is a wonderful addition.

Originally started by Chris Anderson (Editor in Chief of Wired Magazine) as a blog - http://www.wired.com/geekdad/ - (and a great story about his combining LEGO robotics with Radio Control planes, and GPS, to create a home made UAV (Unmanned Arial Vehicle) with his kids, and many other interesting topics, something on the cover immediately caught my attention, the silhouette of a dragon and a 20 sided die.

The blog, and subsequent book were then handed over to the care of Ken Denmead, http://geekdadbook.com/ .

Sure enough, in the table of contents is "Parenting with Role-playing games".

All 3 of my boys (10, 12, and 14) are now regular RPGers. Currenty the eldest is very much into Zombies, and a new RPG based on the TV series Supernatural. I started them all out 5 years ago with MERP (Middle-earth Role Playing), and later D&D, and now many others over those years. They now have groups with their friends at school, in the neighborhood, and through camps.

The book proposes using RPG benefits as a merit reward system for daily life to develop a "character" that is loosely based on themselves. "Since RPGS are a way for using mathematics and imagination to turn the life of a created character into a game, why not try applying RPG concepts to managing day-to-day life?"

Many of Ken's comments in the early description I found very much appealing and in agreement with a number of philosophies I have had on the topics he brings up, though I do disagree with the initial premise that telling some you play pen and paper RPGs is "one of the geekiest things you can tell a person", but that's just me, and i also feel that just further reinforces negative (depending on context) and incorrect stereo types (though I know many "geeky" RPGers, I know many others who would not otherwise fit that classification in the rest of their lives and mannerisms, but many shy away from consideration, due to such labels. Anyhow, some of the positive statements made....

"I don't think you can overstate the value these games have for fostering creative play in kids."...."appealed to all the classic geeky traits, especially depth of knowledge...But the game was also intensely social, and many of the bonds made over afternoon expeditions to the Barrier Peaks have lasted a lifetime." I very much agree on that last part especially.

...."The best thing, and the thing that separates them from video games, is that they use the imagination. and they bring people together to play, face-to-face. Sounds like a perfect thing for GeekDads to do with their kids, doesn't it?"

"Beyond just the game play, there are the figures to be painted, the dice to be collected, and even hundreds of licensed novels to be read about the worlds the games are set in. RPGs can be a lifelong hobby that grows with your kids."

Basically he uses roughly the d20 system and sets up awarding experience point to the kids for good grades on a test, doing chores well, etc, to which their character increases in level. As they make levels, they gain more skill points an feats, and thus the kids get rewards such as (his suggestions, not mine), an extra hour of TV for the week, or getting to use the lawnmower, etc.

Another quote I've said many times myself for years regarding my boys, and kids in general, "Kids like structure, like having a framework so that they understand what they need to do to receive certain benefits. They also like to have goals to work toward to prove they are growing up and earning new responsibilities. Sounds an awful like what you do with a D&D character, huh?"

He continues with his premise: "So, instead of simple chore charts on the fridge and a weekly allowance, why not turn your kids' duties and benefits into a role-playing game?"

He even includes a full character sheet for copying in the back of the book!

I have quoted far more than I probably should, but it is getting late, and I am too weary to paraphrase so much tonight, so pardon the laziness is so much blatant copying (at least it's fully attributed).

Anyhow, I have only read a small portion of the book, but have enjoyed it very much so far. It's fun light-hearted tone, and the many topics covered are definitely areas I at least can relate to, and see as great ideas for summer fun with the boys. Hopefully others will check it out, and enjoy as much.

I will definitely report on any successes or failures in experimenting with what he suggests. I will probably have to wait until the school year resumes to fully realize the benefits of this approach, so will probably wait until a few weeks into August before beginning. I will report on my RPG Research project website more detail than here, but I'll let folks know when there is anything significant to report.

Cheers!

-Hawke

http://www.rpgresearch.com

http://www.wired.com/geekdad/

http://geekdadbook.com/

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The RPG Research Project Mission: A large scale, long term, multi-variable, triple-blind research

study on the therapeutic aspects of role playing gaming. The purpose

is to determine the causal characteristics of role playing games, rather

than relying on correlative data as other studies have done in the past.