How role-playing games (Kids RPG’s & D&D) build confidence in Children
Introduction
Kids’ role-playing games (RPGs) create a unique space where kids can explore, speak up, build confidence, and take risks in a fun and supportive way. When kids step into the shoes of a character, they discover new strengths they didn’t know they had. They forget about screens and envelop that character persona, and speak as the character, not themselves. In time, this quickly rubs off on their own actions, and they begin to find ways to find their voice in the real world.
1. Speaking Without Fear
We know that when kids feel safe to express themselves, they thrive — but not every child has the same confidence in the classroom, or in a group that they do when they are at home. In an RPG, as a character, kids can behave behind the character. This lowers the pressure and helps even shy or anxious kids to share ideas. Over time, their in-game bravery starts to carry over into real-life confidence.
2. Making Decisions That Matter
Every adventure puts kids in the driver’s seat. Should the party sneak past the dragon or try to make friends with it? These choices are meaningful in the story, and kids quickly learn that their voices matter. Wizard, its your turn, what would you like to do…
3. Teamwork That Builds Social Skills
RPGs aren’t solo games — they’re about working together to achieve a desired outcome as a group. Kids learn to listen, compromise, and cheer for each other’s successes. These social wins give them confidence in group settings outside the game.
Many times this group builds friendships over time and the players end up connecting on more levels than just the tabletop. I myself started playing in Dungeons and Dragons in 3.5 edition and am still playing with nearly the exact same group from over 20 years ago!
4. A Safe Place to Make Mistakes
When a plan fails in a story, the group laughs, adapts, and tries again. This helps kids understand that mistakes are part of learning, not something to fear. I triple flip over to impress the Commander of my ability… you roll a 3 and fail miserably, the Commander takes a glance at you and continues his walk. Hilarity ensues between the players, memories are made and everyone has fun.
5. Less Screen Time, More Imagination
In a world where kids spend hours glued to screens and watching all sorts of garbage on YouTube kids, useless shows and who else knows what, RPGs offer a refreshing change. Instead of consuming stories passively, kids create them actively — with dice, paper, and their imaginations. This face-to-face play builds social confidence and gives kids a healthy balance away from digital devices. Creativity can also apply to all other aspects of life too and with the reduction in screen time also comes a better circadian rhythm too.
Conclusion
Confidence grows when kids are heard, supported, and given space to take risks. RPGs deliver all three in one package. Whether around the kitchen table or in a classroom, adventures like The Enchanted Forest or Cheddar Doom at Moonmelt Keep are more than games — they’re tools for building self-belief. Get them off the screens and playing RPG’s like these and they will feel empwered, confident and build genuine skills that they can apply in the real world!
Where to next…
If you are ready to give your kids or students a confidence boost through storytelling, then check out our current Kids’ D&D Adventures to bring this experience to your kids and family at home!
We have adventures for ages 3-5, 5-8 and 8-12! We have all maps, pregenerated characters, and no prep adventures so you can literally pick up and play to get them off the screens and iPads and into a world that we love so much. These adventures are also designed for new DM’s too, so don’t worry if you don’t know how to run games for kids, that’s where we step in to help.
