Computer game helps kids cope with divorce
Categories: Just for moms, Teens & tweens, Just for dads, Divorce & custody, Development, Gadgets & tech
Zipland is a wonderful paradise, ruled by a King and Queen and held together by a zipper. Life is good until an earthquake rocks Zipland. The zipper is broken, Zipland breaks apart, and the King and Queen find themselves living on separate islands.
Moose, a boy living in Zipland, is desperate to build a new zipper and reunite the King and Queen. Although he tries very hard, he is unable to bring Zipland back together and eventually must come to terms with the King and Queen's permanent separation.
That is the basic storyline of Earthquake in Zipland, the first research-based computer game designed to help children cope with divorce. While it sounds simplistic, the game actually incorporates techniques and insights from the fields of clinical psychology, family, child and divorce therapy.
In the game, the main character's quest to reunite the King and Queen is symbolic of a child's desire to see separated parents together again. As Moose tries to accomplish this, he is taken through different scenarios where he deals with issues that a child of divorce would experience: anger, guilt, loyalty conflicts and of course, the fantasy to reunite divorced parents.
The Rosen Law Firm in Raleigh, North Carolina is offering the game to clients who are divorcing. Lee Rosen, president of the firm, says " When parents split, they often find themselves in challenging situations on how to communicate with their kids and Earthquake in Zipland provides them with a unique tool."
Designed to increase communication between parents and children, the game itself is a colorful, 3-D adventure and is recommended for children ages 9 to 12.
Moose, a boy living in Zipland, is desperate to build a new zipper and reunite the King and Queen. Although he tries very hard, he is unable to bring Zipland back together and eventually must come to terms with the King and Queen's permanent separation.
That is the basic storyline of Earthquake in Zipland, the first research-based computer game designed to help children cope with divorce. While it sounds simplistic, the game actually incorporates techniques and insights from the fields of clinical psychology, family, child and divorce therapy.
In the game, the main character's quest to reunite the King and Queen is symbolic of a child's desire to see separated parents together again. As Moose tries to accomplish this, he is taken through different scenarios where he deals with issues that a child of divorce would experience: anger, guilt, loyalty conflicts and of course, the fantasy to reunite divorced parents.
The Rosen Law Firm in Raleigh, North Carolina is offering the game to clients who are divorcing. Lee Rosen, president of the firm, says " When parents split, they often find themselves in challenging situations on how to communicate with their kids and Earthquake in Zipland provides them with a unique tool."
Designed to increase communication between parents and children, the game itself is a colorful, 3-D adventure and is recommended for children ages 9 to 12.
Recent Posts
- Weekend Fun and Games (7/03/2009)
- Kids and Extracurriculars - When Do You Let Them Quit? (7/03/2009)
- Twitter Follow Friday on ParentDish! (7/03/2009)
- Lush Lashes (7/03/2009)
- Abigail Breslin Makes $13 a Week (7/03/2009)
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
barbara 4-25-2007 @ 8:17PM
I think I could benefit from playing this game.
Reply
Steve Shickles 4-25-2007 @ 9:42PM
This is very true... It helped me cope.
http://www.steveshickles.tv
Reply