Protect the Dino: A Game Review for Play Therapy

Tasha Milligan
5 days ago
2 min read

Protect the dino game review for play therapy

I picked up the Protect the Dino game from Five Below for $5. I'm all about finding inexpensive additions to the play therapy room! The game plays the same as Don't Break the Ice. I've had this game for about 6 months, and so far, it's been a hit.

Before randomly adding games to your play space, I think it is essential to have a purpose for each game. What therapeutic goals will it meet? How can it help the child grow? What emotions or experiences can be processed through play? These answers will help shape the direction you will go with the game.

While most games can be therapeutic in general, a more specific intention can elevate the experience. For instance, if you play this game according to the directions, it will stimulate a sense of anxiety requiring some coping mechanisms to stay calm and focused. Additionally, the game can initiate conversation, teamwork, competition, and modeling.

I like to look for metaphors and analogies, using the imagery the game provides. For this one, I think of building a strong support base. As we knock out pieces, we lose our footing, and our world can come crashing down when we feel all alone. I often hear children say, "Jessie made me mad, so I'm not her friend anymore," or something along those lines. They slowly start losing their support system when they decide not to be friends with their peers. This gives a great example: it might feel OK for a while, but eventually they will feel all alone and fall apart.

12 game hacks for effective play therapy

I have used this game in some play therapy training sessions, and participants have brainstormed other variants. One was knocking out blocks, representing upsetting situations that hadn't been processed. Eventually, they fell apart emotionally. With a bit of creativity, there are probably many ways to use analogies to use this game in various ways.

Here is a video by Pam Dyson showing how she used Don't Break the Ice in play therapy. She uses stickers on the bottom of the pieces to use discussion prompts while playing the game. I think you could utilize this concept with many games.