‘You Sunk My Battleship!’ How game play builds self-esteem

I recently passed by the Children’s Learning Center at Sheltering Wings and heard one of our male volunteers, Mark, playing the game “Battleship” with a boy: “When I give you the coordinates, you look at your battlefield and let me know if it’s a hit or miss on one of your ships,” Mark explained. I couldn’t help but smile as I thought about the way Mark was investing in this boy.

You see, kids who grow up in an abusive home are 11 times more likely to become a victim or abuser themselves. But it doesn’t have to end that way! Research shows when we invest in children, we can replace risky and unhealthy tendencies with the building blocks – what are called “developmental assets” – for growing up healthy, caring and responsible.

Who would have thought playing a game could result in a positive support network, a commitment to learning and social competencies for children who got such a tough start in life? Mark did! Or, at least he knows the value of mentorship and chooses to give of himself each week to our kids.

To learn more about our donor-funded prevention program and the 40 developmental assets you can help us build in children, visit https://shelteringwings.org/40-developmental-assets/.