The day your younglings get involved in your DnD obsession might just be the proudest day of your life. Forget their birth, first words, or kindergarten graduation, DnD day is the only one that needs to be remembered now.
But getting kids involved isn’t as easy as it might be with more mature players and there are a few things you need to remember when attempting this. Here are 5 easy tips for playing DnD with your kids, helping them form a lasting love for the best game in the world.
Use Pregens
For many, creating their characters is a borderline religious experience. Hours of thought go into creating the perfect profile that will probably stick with you for years to come.
On the other hand, using some pre-generated characters like the exciting new Sorcerer 5e is a good strategy for kids. It helps them get into the game faster and get acquainted with all the complexities of setting up a character of their own along the way.
Keep it short
We love a lengthy campaign as much as the next DM, but when you get kids involved, it’s best to keep it short and sweet. A kid’s attention span is shorter than a pixie so you need to work extra hard to keep them focused. Take them on a journey no longer than one or two hours to keep their interest at its peak.
Be Patient
Any DM worth his salt can tell you, it is sometimes a struggle to keep the quest on track, but it must be done. Keeping it going with kids is even more difficult. It’s like trying to herd Tabaxi!
Kids will find ways to derail the game around every corner but you need to lean into this and encourage their enthusiastic spirit. Kids like to zoom in on small, seemingly insignificant details while letting larger plotlines slip through the cracks. Don’t sweat it! This is how they will gain an appreciation for the game.
Use Props
DnD is tons of fun on its own, testing the limits of your imagination around every corner. But this playing with kids is a great excuse to dust off your prop kit. Beginner players might also have a little difficulty getting into character or understanding the lay of the land, so use as many supporting materials as you can to keep it interesting and get the creative juices flowing.
Use maps and figurines to reflect the game and get dressed up with cloaks, swords, staffs, and wands to live your best fantasy life.
Don’t kill
This one should come without saying, but don’t kill characters when playing DnD with kids. Battles can get gruesome but it is your job to try and keep it appropriate. Death is unnecessary for these games and you can always help kids find a way to recover.
Not only is it violent, but kids don’t take kindly to being booted out of a game. Keep everyone involved and let them stick around till the end to avoid tears and chaos.
Make the goals clear
Lengthy and complicated plotlines seem like an inescapable part of a game of DnD but it is entirely possible to dumb it down a little for kids. The best way to do this is to clearly outline the villain in your story. Avoid nuanced characters with blurry morals and stick to an outright “bad guy”.
Make the plot clear too. Lay out what the mission is and how to end the game. “When the walls of the dragon’s lair crumble, your people will be freed from its clutches.” Here you have a clear antagonist and one mission in mind.
Make sure everyone gets a turn
Kids will enter into a game of DnD with trepidation, unsure of what they can and cannot do. It will be easy for a player to get lost in the mix if they try and sit back as the game unfolds.
Keep an eye on all the players to make sure everyone participates equally. You can help them with hints and ideas if they seem hesitant, but they will only learn by being active in the game.
The most important thing to remember is to have fun! You want to get kids hooked from the start to keep the good times rolling along with the icosahedron.