Seeing children grow up is magical. The way they absorb information – especially words they shouldn’t, like a quick cuss that slips out – puts a sponge to shame. But while every child learns language at their own pace, there are cases where children experience difficulties.
Neurodevelopmental conditions, such as ADHD, dyslexia, and autism, are well known; however, a growing number of children are being diagnosed with Developmental Language Disorder (DLD). This condition impacts about 7.5% of children in the UK (2 in every class of 30 pupils), yet it is often underdiagnosed in Malta. Speech and Language Pathologist (SLP) Donia Stellini describes DLD as ‘the white whale of speech and language therapy’. She notes that, ‘if language difficulties persist beyond the age of five, and no neurodevelopmental or social causes are identified, then – if the clinical markers are present – we would consider a diagnosis of DLD.’
Treating DLD and other communication conditions is an SLP’s bread and butter. While therapy sessions can help children, their impact needs to be reinforced through regular use – and what better way to reinforce learning than through play?
Flying Squirrel Games and the University of Malta (UM) have collaborated to create Olly’s Adventures: The City of Two Languages, a board game with a companion app developed alongside SLP specialists to support children diagnosed with language difficulties.
How does the game work?
Games need to be fun. The challenge for Olly’s Adventures: The City of Two Languages is to be both educational and fun, even for players who do not have a language issue.
A typical game lasts around 30 to 40 minutes and involves 2 to 4 players: a moderator (such as a parent or therapist) and 2 to 3 players. You will have a deck of cards, a board, and a companion app for your phone. It is important to note that this is not a mobile game; the app is there to facilitate gameplay. The game is turn-based, and the goal is to get your own brightly coloured penguin to the finish line first.
There are eight types of cards, each with its own QR code. Each card correlates to a different minigame. Winning these minigames earns players points, which are used to race their penguins across the board. These minigames are inspired by activities that children engage in during therapy sessions. For example, one minigame called Describe shows the player a picture through the app, and players must describe what they see. Another minigame, called Odd One Out, requires players to choose the odd word out from a selection displayed on the companion app.
The game is designed to allow players with varying language abilities to play together. So you might have a five-year-old with language difficulties playing with their older sister, with each minigame adjusted to suit the individual player’s level, keeping the overall experience fun and challenging. ‘On the companion app, each player has a specific profile set according to their level,’ explains Demanuele. ‘So, the questions in each minigame are tailored to the individual player.’
While each minigame awards players a fixed number of points, bonus points can be granted at the moderators’ discretion. For example, in Odd One Out, players may earn extra points if they can explain their reasoning. ‘The moderator plays a critical role; losing is a natural part of any game, but in ours, positive reinforcement is crucial, as we are trying to encourage language development,’ emphasises Demanuele.
Another family-friendly feature of the app allows the game to be paused (for example, at dinner time) and resumed later. Each player can also choose whether they want to play in English or Maltese.
How can a game help?
Games are incredibly effective at keeping children engaged – as any parent who has tried to drag their child away from a PlayStation will know. Play is also an effective pedagogical tool. ‘It is the language of children – they learn about the world through play,’ says Stellini. ‘My role was to create the minigames used in Olly’s Adventures. I brought in therapeutic insights about what might work with children, as these games are inspired by activities used in therapy sessions.’
‘When you put people in a game environment rather than a clinic, the differences are astounding,’ says Demanuele. ‘The challenge was making these games work in a board game format. In the clinic, they use a variety of games; for Olly’s Adventures, we were trying to bring all the games together in one box,’ he explains. ‘We brought the therapeutic process into the game. It supplements a therapy session, with the moderator acting as a mini-therapist,’ adds Stellini.
Future plans
The goal along the way has been to make Olly’s Adventures affordable. The game itself, along with lifetime access to the companion app, is priced like any typical board game – at €40. Olly’s Adventures: The City of Two Languages can be used to supplement speech therapy sessions, help those trying to learn Maltese, or be a fun addition to family game night! The game is currently in its final stages of development and will be available in stores later this year.
The following article by David Mizzi features in Issue 47: Disciplines of THINK Magazine, the official research magazine of the University of Malta. For more articles from the edition, pick up a copy on Campus or read here. (Republished courtesy of THINK).
