The Lewy Body Society has partnered with the University of Liverpool to develop a new children’s board game that helps younger generations understand dementia.
The Dementia Explorer Game is designed for ages 7–11 and encourages children to learn about dementia through play. Developed with input from local schoolchildren, the game covers four themes: learning about dementia, understanding risk factors, how children can help, and how to live well with dementia.
The board game was also piloted with people with dementia and unpaid carers at the Wigan Warriors Rugby Club Memory Group.
Dr Clarissa Giebel, Senior Research Fellow at the University of Liverpool’s Institute of Population Health, said: “By engaging children at an early age, we can create opportunities to talk openly, ask questions, and start breaking down barriers. The Dementia Explorer Game gives children a fun, interactive way to learn more about dementia, while also empowering them to think about how they can support people living with the condition.”
The project builds on Dr Giebel’s earlier work developing the Dementia Inequalities Game with people with dementia and carers, which highlighted the inequalities many face. The new children’s version continues to raise awareness of dementia by encouraging understanding and compassion from childhood onwards.
Jacqui Cannon, chief executive of The Lewy Body Society, said: “We are really proud to have supported this project with Dr Giebel and the University of Liverpool. At the Lewy Body Society, we know how important it is to tackle stigma and misunderstanding, and that means starting conversations from an early age. By helping children learn about dementia in a fun and engaging way, this game can encourage empathy and compassion that will benefit people with dementia and their families for years to come.”
The Dementia Explorer Game and the Dementia Inequalities Game is now available to buy exclusively from our online shop.
You can hear Dr Giebel discussing the Dementia Explorer Game in more detail on the Original Ideas podcast.
