The Importnce of Role-Playing Games

To assemble a full understanding of the topic, a definition is compulsory. Role-playing, in terms of playing such things as Advanced Dungeons & Dragons, is the assemblage of friends and/or family to play out, and sometimes create, a storyline. There are many different kinds of role-playing games. Without realizing it, most people have played these role playing games. Do you remember, as a small child, playing army, cops & robbers, Barbie, and/or cowboys & Indians? How about playing similar games with your children? Well, these are all considered role-playing games.

For most people, they grow out of playing such games. This is mostly due to the fact that they would look silly doing so after reaching the age where imaginary friends, etc. are looked at as childish or inappropriate. For those same people, role-playing is considered unrealistic and unnecessary. However, for many, including some business' like 'Sales Creators', role-playing is far from being unrealistic or unnecessary. According to Sales Creators, a company that helps solve business problems, role-playing is an imperative tool.

"One of the most effective training methods is role playing. Not just for sales or customer service training, this technique is an excellent way to achieve a number of benefits for employees, management and support people (Sales Creators, 2007)."

Schools, companies, psychologists, marriage counselors, and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder counselors, to name a few, all use role-playing as a method to open communication. Regardless if you are talking about learning a new skill at work, creating a play at school, learning to understand your partner, or getting through a traumatic event, role-playing makes nearly all topics more comprehensible. With the help of the local Child Services, many people have learned that role playing can have an enormous amount of potential in teaching various lessons to family and friends of all ages. Through the use of Advanced Dungeons & Dragons, my kids, my best friend's kids, and some neighborhood children as well, have learned how to:

 work as a team

 solve puzzles

 hold conversations

 follow instruction

 redirect anger positively

 release stress and anxiety

 build self confidence

 explore the imagination

 create new ideas

 listen

 express oneself

 and so much more

Schools sometimes use role-playing in classrooms to teach a lesson, or to get more participation from the student. Below are a few links to videos that show actual use of role-playing.

At http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XH8RO-QrXlw, is a video showing role-playing used to instruct students in abstract concepts.

At http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xqwgjobsSeQ, is a school principal using role-playing to help students gain an intercultural understanding.

At http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GqGBQGE08-8,