Game Based Learning 2010

Dr Hodges is a Consultant Clinical Psychologist at the Tavistock and Portman NHS foundation trust. She specialises in work with children and has led the development of an emotional well being website for primary school children which crosses the domains of mental health and education. The site has been developed working in conjunction with primary school children through numerous focus groups and it links with the SEAL curriculum. Dr Emilios Lemoniatis is a Locum Consultant Child Psychiatrist who has co led the project and will co present the paper on the website.

Emotional Well being site for primary school kids

The overall aim of the project is to raise awareness and inform and educate children at key stage 2 (7 to 10 year olds) about common mental health difficulties that may affect them and their families, and how to manage these. We have used our expertise in the field of ‘Talking Therapies’ with children and families to try and communicate with this particular age group via the internet about a subject that can be both difficult and personally involving. We have not found a comparable online resource. We believe that this is primarily because of the complexity of the subject matter and the difficulties surrounding engaging children with such challenging or sometimes painful material. The site has been developed with the support of a web design company (Elmwood) and an animation company (Absolutely Cuckoo), and the site features a range of animated 'sock puppets' some of which have been designed by children themselves (the visuals are very engaging), and features a main character 'Cam' (the site is called 'Cam's Den) who leads children through games that explore mental health issues, stories that the children can influence by choosing different endings to, and other activities for teachers and parents to work with younger children in school or at home. The site also gives information on accessing 'face to face' help if needed and a video on 'demystifying' child mental health services. Children have been involved throughout the project and there will be user generated content