PLAY • CONNECT • GROW is a practical developmental game system featuring 30 games designed specifically for children ages 9–12.

A Developmental Game System for Social, Emotional & Life Skills | Ages 9–12

How can we help children develop communication, teamwork, problem-solving, boundaries, flexible thinking, and decision-making skills — without turning learning into a lecture?

PLAY • CONNECT • GROW is a practical developmental game system featuring 30 games designed specifically for children ages 9–12.

Instead of simply telling children what good communication, cooperation, or problem-solving should look like, the games give them opportunities to practice these skills through play, challenges, decisions, experimentation, and teamwork.

At this age, children need more than instructions about what they “should” do. They need opportunities to try, think, make mistakes, adjust their approach, communicate clearly, listen to others, set boundaries, make decisions, and discover that one problem can have more than one possible solution.

That is exactly what this system is designed to provide.

The collection includes 30 developmental games organized into three sections: 10 funny and playful games that encourage communication, creativity, and flexibility; 10 games and challenges that develop teamwork, planning, adaptation, and problem-solving; and 10 communication and problem-solving games that help children practice asking useful questions, sharing information, exploring alternatives, setting boundaries, and making decisions.

Children will experience building challenges, team missions, secret-information games, puzzles, a mini escape room, leadership challenges, boundary activities, decision-making situations, and unexpected changes that require them to rethink and adapt their plans.

The resource also includes printable card sets used throughout the games, including Change Cards, Boundary Cards, Situation Cards, Problem Cards, Secret Information Cards, Decision Cards, New Information Cards, and Puzzle Cards.

Who is it for?

PLAY • CONNECT • GROW can be used in families, classrooms, schools, groups, community programs, and educational or developmental settings.

Each game provides a clear developmental goal, materials needed, step-by-step instructions, examples, a short reflection, and facilitator guidance to help adults create a safe and meaningful experience.

The goal is not to turn play into another lesson.

The goal is to build the skill into the experience itself.

Instead of only telling a child how to communicate, cooperate, solve a problem, or make a decision, we create a situation where they can practice doing it.

Play is not time away from learning.

It is where children practice thinking, communicating, adapting, cooperating, and trying again.

Created & Developed by Hala Kapani | AFDAC

© 2026 Hala Kapani / AFDAC