The Bullying Game is an effective intervention program because it focuses on all three roles in the bullying cycle: the victim, the bully, and the bystander. This game deals with the unique characteristics of every participant in the bullying cycle and focuses on different learning objectives for each. The game particularly emphasizes bullies' motivations (e.g., displaced aggression, status-seeking) and victims' coping strategies (e.g., assertion, distraction).

Therapists can easily tailor the game for use with individual children or homogeneous groups of victims, bullies, or bystanders. Yet it is also useful with mixed groups, particularly in classroom settings where most bullying occurs.

 Changing Family Game (CFG)

This engaging board game gives therapists a convenient and very focused way to address the needs of children affected by divorce. Using principles of cognitive restructuring and behavioral rehearsal, it helps children develop more realistic and adaptive attitudes about their parents' divorce. Specifically, it addresses the following nonadaptive attitudes: Peer Ridicule and Avoidance, Paternal Blame, Maternal Blame, Fear of Abandonment, and Hope of Reconciliation. And it introduces children to new behavioral options that can help them adjust to the single parent family, blended family and visitation.

Two brief inventories (included) help you determine what kind of problems the child or family is experiencing. You can then select game cards that address these problems. Recommended for 2-6 players.

Drugs and Alcohol Game (DAG)

Because children are exposed to drugs and alcohol at earlier ages, it's more important than ever that they acquire the skills necessary to resist the internal and external pressures to experiment with these substances. This game familiarizes children with the situations that often lead to substance use and, through discussion and role playing, teaches them how to successfully refrain from using drugs and alcohol.

Acknowledging that certain attitudes and emotions--not just peer pressure--underlie the decision to use drugs and alcohol, the game addresses the complex circumstances that lead to drug use in the real world. Game cards present realistic scenarios in which characters confront alcohol, crack, marijuana, and pills. Players identify the characters' motivations to use drugs, and then they role play responses that reject drug use.

An accompanying self-report inventory helps you identify each child's potential incentives to use drugs and alcohol.

Family Living Game (FLG)

This game improves relationships between parents and children. Both generations benefit from the game's learning objectives:

• Improve parent-child communication

• Identify positive and negative ways of connecting emotionally

• Develop mutual respect

Parents' game cards teach reflective listening, helping the child explore alternative solutions to problems, sending clear messages, and punishing and praising the child appropriately. Children's game cards teach assertiveness, acceptance of imperfect parental behavior, and acknowledgement and reciprocity in response to positive parental behavior. Communication game cards are answered jointly by parents and their children and encourage interaction and a chance to practice win/win negotiation.

The Family Living Game is most effective when parents and children play together, with a counselor mediating game play, offering suggestions, and elaborating on important topics.

Feelings Game (FEG)

The Feelings Game helps children and adolescents gain greater control over their feelings and emotions. It teaches them to:

• Identify and label feelings

• Differentiate levels of feeling

• Recognize that thoughts, not circumstances, cause feelings

• Identify the cognitive errors related to negative feelings

• Replace negative thinking with positive thinking

Game cards represent common experiences at school and at home. Two inventories (included) can be used to help select game cards that are most relevant for particular players.

Self-Concept Game (SCG)

The Self-Concept Game is an excellent tool to improve self-esteem.  This appealing board game is an excellent way to engage--and treat--children who are too old for puppets and toys, but too young to express themselves readily in therapy. It improves self-esteem by giving children a clearer, more realistic picture of themselves in five areas: Scholastic Competence; Social Acceptance; Physical Appearance; Athletic Competence; and Behavioral Competence. It helps them discover their strengths and teaches them strategies for maintaining and enhancing self-esteem.

To focus discussion, you can choose appropriate game cards based on the child's responses to the Self-Concept Inventory and the Cognitive Orientation Inventory, both included in the game manual. Generally played by a therapist and one or more children, the game can also be used by parents or used in the classroom.

 Self-Control Game (STG)

The Self-Control Game teaches children how to exercise self-control in academic and social situations. It addresses 24 specific traits and behaviors classified as impulsive, inattentive, or hyperactive.

As they move around the game board and respond to questions on game cards, they learn how to change maladaptive behavior. A Children's Behavior Control Inventory (included) helps you select game cards that focus on a given child's particular needs.

This game is an ideal way to apply cognitive-behavioral techniques to impulsive or hyperactive behavior. If you treat children who daydream, fidget, or act without thinking, try The Self-Control Game.

Social Conflict Game (SFG)

Designed for use with children and adolescents who experience frequent conflict with peers, The Social Conflict Game teaches seven cognitive and behavioral conflict resolution skills to reduce interpersonal antagonism:

• Recognizing that circumstances are often the source of conflict
• Assuming personal responsibility for conflict
• Learning the other person's point of view
• Disputing beliefs that justify aggression
• Thinking ahead about consequences
• Using assertive rather than aggressive behavior
• Using problem-solving skills

The Social Conflicts Inventory, which comes with the game, tells you which cognitive skills to focus on, and in turn, which of the game's 200+ cards to use.

Social Skills Game (SSG)

The Social Skills Game is an ideal way to help children acquire social skills. This appealing board game teaches children attitudes and behaviors that promote positive interaction with their peers. It is especially helpful with those who are shy or socially neglected.

Game cards focus on four skill areas: Making Friends, Responding Positively to Peers, Cooperating with Peers, and Communicating Needs. Included in the game manual are three inventories that can be used to identify the child's specific skill deficits and select game cards addressing those deficits. Although usually played by the therapist and one or more children, the game can also be loaned to parents for home use.