If you haven't noticed, I love using games in counseling!! However, I only like to use a game if it serves a specific purpose and can be used for therapeutic purposes. Games offer many benefits such as emotional regulation, social skill building, frustration tolerance, cooperative play, communication skills, and learning to implement coping skills. The beautiful thing is that each game offers a unique challenge for children to overcome and learn from. When playing Mancala I have noticed children are challenged to define the goal.
Before starting the game I explain the aim is to get the most pebbles in your goal. Then I explain the rules of going around and systematically dropping pebbles in each spot until you end either in your goal or an empty cup. I will often demonstrate so that I am assured the child understands before playing the game. However, they almost always get so focused on moving the pebbles and wanting to circle the board that they forget the goal of the game. Ultimately, they may move more pebbles, but they fail to reach the goal.
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Metaphor is a powerful tool in the counseling world. We often get so busy in life moving and shaking that we forget our purpose or goals. Kids get caught up in trivial things that distract them from what they should be focusing on in class. Or perhaps they take on other people's problems instead of working through their own issues. This game paints a picture that most kids fall into without thinking: staying busy does not mean you are getting anywhere if you are not focused on your goals.
While we never aim for kids to fail, a small failure can lead to motivation for change and can help bring awareness to carelessness. Kids can use this small lesson to help develop a strategy for life and to be more aware of their daily decisions. Powerful changes occur when kids learn that small decisions add up to big changes over time.
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Photo by Amusan John: https://www.pexels.com/photo/men-hands-over-tray-with-food-20382298/
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