Imagination as intervention

The game Dungeons & Dragons can be therapeutic for neurodivergent children

children as characters in dungeons and dragons

It is hard to miss the game Dungeons & Dragons (D&D) these days. The role-playing game is a prominent feature in the Netflix series Stranger Things—with the storyline picking up on the fact that the game was once at the centre of a moral panic in America. A blog post by Alex Chalk in 2018 explained that when the game first emerged in 1980s, the prevailing climate of suspicion at the time, known as the “Satanic Panic”, meant that religious groups, psychologists and law enforcement spread fear that the game was leading American youth into the occult. There was little appetite for a deeper conversation about what it really means to play D&D and why kids might benefit from it.

What a loss that turned out to be. Because the worriers had it all backwards. Their stereotypical view was that these children were socially awkward, nerdy, or isolated and thus at particular risk from fringe and deviant ideas like Satanism. The fantasy elements of the story definitely appeal to many neurodivergent children—and of course children more generally—but it is just a game. And like all play it helps children develop skills.

In this case it happens to be particularly good for developing social and emotional skills. For children who have become socially isolated by peers, or who are neurodivergent, this kind of gameplay can be a lifeline. It is a space where they can express their creativity and strengths and build relationships on their own terms.

But beyond play, there is an idea that the game is sufficiently helpful that it can amount to a therapeutic intervention and improve the wellbeing of neurodivegent people. D&D’s unique blend of structure and creativity makes it accessible as well as fun. It isn’t fair that unreasonable fears of the occult has cut kids off from the socialisation and skill-building that could help them form friendships and navigate their world.

Bear with me for a moment and I’ll unpack this a bit. Let’s start with what D&D actually is: a game where a group of friends pretend to be heroes going on adventures in an imaginary world that is described by the game organiser—a person known as the dungeon master. The dungeon master describes the story, narrates events, and manages the world. The players choose their characters and characteristics, and decides what their characters want to do, whether it be exploring, solving problems, or fighting monsters—rolling dice at times to see if their actions succeed or fail. And the kids generally work together in the story—guided by the Dungeon Master. There is no board.

I first started talking to the parents of neurodiverse children a few years ago about some of the challenges their children faced. And this game called D&D just kept coming up. Then one parent of an autistic child who thrived at D&D explained it to me, “The kids like it because the social content is narrated and they don’t have to decode it”. In other words, the kids who would normally find social cues confusing and hard work, do not have to figure out that they are facing an angry Orc with an axe, they are told specifically.

Another elemement of the game that seems to work for neurodivergent kids is the role-playing. Experts say this is a way of practising new social skills in a low-risk environment where mistakes are part of the game. As one school in St Louis explains “it makes socialising feel more manageable—especially for kids with autism or ADHD”. D&D is a risk-free way to explore the consequences of social interactions, and for some children it is the first place they have felt truly accepted.

A study by the University of Plymouth in August last year concluded that while real-life interactions can be challenging for autistic people, they found role-playing games to be a much safer space where they could engage in social interactions. It was also possible for them to take on a new character that changed the way they felt about themselves outside of the game. In other words, the escapism allows them to express themselves and test the waters as characters they are unable to express in real life. They can be a brave hero, a team players, a solver of complex problems, or the joker who brings the group together. All this builds confidence and self esteem and is particular rewarding for children who might struggle to find a positive role for themselves in academic, sporting, or family settings.

The game also requires and develops many other skills: executive function (planning, organisation, working memory). Then there is turn-taking, impulse control and emotional regulation. The game also requires conflict resolution, dealing with setbacks, disappointment, and failures. Progress in the game is also the result of hard work and perseverance—another useful life lesson. And a good Dungeon Master will help children navigate these difficulties.

It is also worth adding that some of the brilliantly quirky minds of neurodivergent children thrive with the creative problem-solving that D&D requires—and are able to come up with unique answers to dilemmas. There are many strengths that neurodivergent children have—strengths that are often not visible to society becuase of the deficit-focused view that tends to dominate. They might be incredibly numerate, have great memories, excel at pattern recognition, have an ability to hyperfocus, incredible attention to detail, a willingness to question assumptions, or posses a highly vivid imagination with creative flair. Some are born out-of-the-box thinkers. Others have a strong sense of justice, empathy, or loyalty.

More than anything D&D is fun, and allows kids to learn while playing. Researchers at the University of South Australia are now looking at using games like D&D to promote social growth and communication. Dwayne Fernandes, the ambassador of amazement at the social gaming group Minds at Play, says she has seen the impact that games like D&D have on promoting social growth. Children who are socially isolated, perhaps due to anxiety, grow in confidence and seek out face-to-face groups that play these games. In other words, it is a sandbox for kids to develop their emotional and social skills.

Many neurodivergent children find the real world overhwhelming but their creative and busy minds thrive with D&D. Yes, D&D is escapism but beyond the fun and joy it brings children it is also helping them thrive with the abilities they have, while giving them tools to navigate the world outside of D&D.

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Resources

Recommended by a reader, “an inspirational panel at Games for Change where educator Kade Wells speaks to the impact D&D has had on his students, well worth the watch!”

D&D groups for neurospicy kids

United Kingdom

P4HE

Bristol Adventurers Guild

Lord Foxley

MindJam Adventure Guild

America

Talent Development Corporation - New York (EST)

Outschool D&D for autistic kids San Francisco - PST

Young Dragonslayers - North Carolina

Australia

Minds at Play

Brightlives D&D social skills group

I CAN Network