Games teach kids to tackle tough topics

 No comments  
 E-mail Story
 Print Story
  Share

 digg it!
 Facebook
 del.icio.us
Seed Newsvine
Fark It
Reddit

Text Size: 

Tools Sponsor

By JODI RAVE

Leslie Hale-Hammerberg, a certified therapeutic foster parent, has invented board games to help Native youths talk about what happens in their world.

It’s hard for kids to talk about suicide, bullying, pregnancy and sexual abuse.

“But we have to talk about it,” she said. “Nothing is off limits. When you can talk about it, it goes away because then you find solutions. It’s only when one carries that burden of not talking about it, it goes all bad.”

She has worked with children of all ages to help them think, feel and act, and to care, share and be responsible.

“Rez Got Game” — a set of four games intended to be used under adult supervision — is being embraced by counselors, psychologists, mental health practitioners and Native family advocates across the country.

“It’s the right time, there’s nothing like it anywhere,” said Glenda Ahhaitty, a retired Los Angeles County mental health director. “It’s a really good tool for mental health professionals who are working with Indian children. It will work for all children.”

Ahhaitty is referring “Rez Got Game” to child advocates because games like Tipi Dancer, Eagle Dancer and Dove Dancer achieve “cultural competency.”

Most other tools are aimed at non-Natives, she said.

Hale-Hammerberg, a Mandan-Hidatsa who has lived on Montana’s Flathead Reservation for the 15 years, designed the game sets on tipi canvas.

Players advance by drawing cards and reading questions. Despite thought-provoking discussions, the games also provide comic relief.

If peers feel a player hasn’t provided a responsible answer, that player must draw a “consequence” card, such as “act like slabs of bacon frying.”

Megan Diffendal, a therapist at Auberle, a group home in McKeesport, Pa., has played Eagle Dancer with 8- to 13-year-olds.

“They really got the point of the game quickly and really responded well and enjoyed playing it, too.”

The I Jokes game takes on more serious issues. Here are abbreviated questions from it, designed to help young adults deal with real-life situations:

n Nicki really likes Sean, a guy from school, even when he pressures her for sex. She agrees to sex, thinking he will like her even more. Two months later, she tells Sean she is pregnant. Sean tells her he will pay for an abortion. What are realistic options Nicki has to work with? Who can Nicki talk to about her pregnancy?

n Tamara is worried about her brother, Willie. She knows Willie has given his important things — his favorite coat to his friend and a few days later, his CD collection to his girlfriend. Do you think Tamara has reason to be worried? Should she talk to Willie? What should she say?

n Erin’s sister Lydia hurts herself. She cuts her arms and legs when she feels depressed. Physical pain makes her forget her emotional pain, she says. Erin knows her sister should get help. If you had a friend like Erin, how would you help her?

n Ashley’s friend Kelly sometimes comes to school with bruises. One evening while Ashley is at Kelly’s house, her dad becomes irate because she forgot to put the dishes away. The next day, Ashley notices Kelly has new bruises. As a friend, how would you help Kelly? If you were Kelly, would you be mad at Ashley for helping?

Professionals like the games because each set opens the doors for critical discussion and proper decision making.

“What we can do is give the kids the tools they need to survive in this life,” said John Schnase of the Boys and Girls Club of the Flathead Reservation and Lake County. “It’s a big challenge. I’m awestruck every day.”

The Boys and Girls Club provides basic guidelines to protect kids, and a primary goal is to help them build six pillars of character: Trustworthiness. Respect. Responsibility. Fairness. Caring. Citizenship.

“I don’t know many successful people who don’t have those virtues,” he said. “Otherwise, they get caught up in something and they come crashing to the ground, whether they get caught in a lie or in doing something selfish. We want those kids to have these tools when they leave the club.”

“The games Les has developed put it right out in front of everyone,” he said. “The games allow them to see how their actions affect their relationships.”

Kids don’t go to their parents, they go to each other, Hale-Hammerberg said.

“Wouldn’t it be nice if parents could talk to their children? We should be giving that voice to our children. We should be listening.”

Jodi Rave covers Native issues for Lee Enterprises. Reach her at (800) 366-7186 or jodi.rave@lee.net.