Free Geek Dad: Awesomely Geeky Projects and Activities for Dads and Kids to Share by Chris Anderson, Ken Denmead

ego in the game. And then, you get to lead them through a story—an adventure—either from a book or of your own making. If you’re acting as the game master (GM), you even have the ability to modulate the game play so it’s just as challenging as it needs to be to keep them interested without ruining their fun. And games like these help teach teamwork, puzzle solving, and even mapmaking.
    Beyond just the game play, there are the figures to be painted, the dice to be collected, and even hundreds of licensed novels to be read about the worlds the games are set in. RPGs can be a lifelong hobby that grows with your kids.
    But here’s an idea: Since RPGs are a way for using mathematics and imagination to turn the life of a created character into a game, why not try applying RPG concepts to managing day-to-day life? Indeed, many RPG players will, at some point in their lives, play characters in an adventure who are based quite specifically on themselves. It’s the classic “what would I do if I were magically transported to Middle Earth/ Star Wars /DC Comics universe?” scenario. Countless players have worked up character sheets for themselves, always slightly overinflating their key statistics (of course I have a high intelligence! I wouldn’t be here if I didn’t!), and then playing themselves as calm and cool in the most incredible of imagined circumstances. After all, wouldn’t every high school junior have the steely nerve to face down a green dragon with nothing but a +1 dagger?
    Sure, that’s a fun, one-off adventure. But that’s still playing a game with friends, or you, as the proud parent, running the adventure for your kids. What if we take it the next step: really turning your kids’ lives into an RPG?
    Okay, not all life. You’re not going to tell your kids to start carrying broadswords to school to deal with the class bully. But the mathematical system of an RPG is meant to create a framework for managing personal growth and achievement for an imaginary character. It creates a balanced reward system for success, and encourages learning and personal planning. What better tools to use in helping your kids handle homework, chores, extracurricular activities, and allowance, all while teaching them to plan ahead and work toward goals? Not many that I can think of, which is why I give you:

    Kids like structure, like having a framework so that they understand what they need to do to receive certain benefits. They also like to have goals to work toward to prove they are growing up and earning new responsibilities. Sounds an awful lot like what you do with a D&D character, huh? So, instead of simple chore charts on the fridge and a weekly allowance, why not turn your kids’ duties and benefits into a role-playing game?

THE IDEA

    You’re the parent, and you are the Game Master/ Dungeon Master (GM/DM). Your child maintains a character sheet with stats, skills, experience, and so forth. Your child earns experience points (eps) for completing regular tasks (e.g., keeping his room clean, walking the pets, washing the dishes) and can get bonus eps for one-shot tasks (an especially good or improved report card, cleaning out the garage, a birthday treat).
    At certain point totals, your child can “level up”—gain a promotion representing his achievements and personal growth. At each leveling up, your child earns skill points and attribute points to spend. Skill points allow the kid to learn new skills (how to safely use the lawn mower to mow the lawn, supervised and unsupervised; how to do the laundry) which can then earn him more experience points. Skill points can also give him benefits—like the ability to earn more allowance, watch TV an hour a week, or add an extracurricular activity at school for example—at a measured pace so that your child balances recreational time against taking care of responsibilities. Additional attribute points help raise the bonuses, and are indicative of the kid’s personal