Fantasy Freaks, Gaming Geeks, and Social Skills

Adam and I have spoken around the country about the benefits of tabletop role-playing games like Dungeons and Dragons. At our PAX South panel, we outlined four reasons we use tabletop games in our social skills groups in the Seattle area. We recently came across this TEDx talk by Ethan Gilsdorf, author of the book Fantasy Freaks and Gaming Geeks, about his personal experience with the game and some other ways tabletop role-playing games benefit all who play.

In addition to giving a great summary of what a tabletop role-playing game actually looks like, Ethan highlights an impressive list of important benefits given by tabletop games: Collaboration, teamwork, preparedness, innovation, problem solving, resilience, character building, moral choice, empathy, tolerance, and of course imagination… just to name a few.

What really makes this video stand out is his personal story. After his mother suffered a brain aneurysm, tabletop games gave him the tools to work through, and empathize with, his mother’s difficult experience:

Watch the video here:

Adam and I talk about the benefits of games all the time, informed by psychology and education training, but this video reminded us of what really led us to the intentional use tabletop role-playing games in our social skills groups: The personal and profound impact that these games have had in our own lives.

Thanks to Grant from Saving the Game for the link!

Know someone who would benefit from Wheelhouse Workshop’s social skills groups?

Call or email us to learn about how we can support your child’s social development with a fun, socially rewarding experience.

Phone: 206 – 588 – 5523

Email: contact@wheelhouse-workshop.com