Tabletop role-playing games (TTRPGs) are a great way to bring families together and create some pretty amazing memories. Playing TTRPGs with your kids is a great way to deal with problem-solving, working together, and of course defeating evil! TTRPGs can benefit your family, share some fun ways to immerse yourself in a fantasy world, like The Windstone Chronicles, and offer tips on playing TTRPGs with your kids. Also, let's not forget you want to play too and you have a party at your fingertips!
TTRPGs: A Fun Way to Bring Families Closer
Shared storytelling is the heart of TTRPGs. Telling a story together truly has no equal in the world today. Coming together to share ideas and explore new worlds is a type of immersion that video games and TV cannot compete with. Playing TTRPGs helps your children develop problem-solving skills, creativity, and confidence in a safe and supportive environment. It also allows you to bond and create lasting memories that your family will share for years to come.
Immersing Yourself in a Fantasy World
One of the most exciting aspects of TTRPGs is the ability to immerse yourself in a fantasy world where you can be whoever you want, and explore who you want to be. Over the table, you are bringing the world to life, but it doesn't have to stop and end at the table. Taking your table to the forest is a great way to get your kids more engaged. Bring costumes, camping snacks, wooden weapons, sleeping bags, and light a campfire. Don't forget places like, the Renaissance fair, or Medieval-themed restaurants. They are great places to pick up costumes, wooden swords, and ideas for your next campaign, and to have another adventure outside the table. Learn more and get some great ideas for playing D&D in the forest.
Tips for Playing RPGs with Kids
Playing RPGs with your kids is an experience like no other, but it also requires some preparation and planning. Here are some tips to help make your TTRPG adventure a success:
Keep it fun. There are many TTRPGs designed specifically for children, but honestly you really only need the basics of any Role Playing Game. Whatever system you want to play, use it. It's less about the rules and more about your imagination as you interact with your kids.
Set a time limit. Keep your game sessions short to keep kids engaged and prevent boredom or frustration. We find that an hour is the best amount of time, but you can stretch this to two. You want them to have so much fun that they ask when the next session is - stopping early is better than stopping too late when kids' attention is involved!
Create a snack table. Having snacks and drinks is a big part of the experience. Theme the snacks. If it's a night of volcanos and fire, then Takis, Red Hots and Cheetos! (Note from Ryan the GM, it's going to be frustrating as all get out when your kids are bobbing up and down from the table to get snacks! Roll with it, just roll with it. It's part of playing with kids, and there will be teaching moments about staying focused that you can weave into the story.)
Encourage creativity. Encourage your child’s creativity and imagination by allowing them to do whatever they want in the story. Help them to understand that it's shared storytelling, so they are a big part of where the narrative goes- and they have a voice at this table. Through the actions of their characters, they have a direct impact on how the story develops.
Use positive reinforcement. Celebrate your child’s successes and encourage them to keep trying, even if they make mistakes. One of my favorite mechanics used in an RPG system comes from IndexCardRPG - if you fail, the next time you try the task becomes easy. Mechanically, it's 3 less on the next dice roll, but just like life, you learn from your failures.
The Swearing Teenager and the Fairy Glade
In the second Volume of The Windstone Chronicles, we came across a faerie glade. Our oldest daughter is at the age where swear words are fascinating. So we had the faeries glow red anytime anyone swore. The lesson: the importance of being mindful of your language and the impact it can have on others, was conveyed in a very memorable way. Does she still swear? Of course, she does, but she also brings up the time the faeries glowed red when she did and a core memory was made for the whole family.
TTRPGs are a fun and immersive way to bring your family closer together. By delving yourself and family in a fantasy world, you encourage imagination and creativity. Playing TTRPGs with your kids, you never know where the story is going to go. So gather your family, put on some fantasy outfits, and lets go on a TTRPG adventure today!
Comments