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One night in one of our teen groups, a bunch of boys were playing with army figures together. They were around 12 and 13, and they had created a whole world, complete with a base camp, water, and different kinds of terrain.
They were all in the zone. Ideas were flowing, everyone was involved, and you could see how content they were just having a great time with each other.
I asked them, “Are there people in your orbit who aren’t in this room who you could do this with?”
They said no.
I wanted to understand what they meant, so I asked whether there weren’t people available, or whether the kids they knew wouldn’t want to play this way. They told me the other kids wouldn’t want to play like this because they mostly played video games.
What stayed with me was how much these boys were enjoying something they didn’t have the opportunity to share with peers elsewhere. In that room, they had found other kids who wanted to build the same world with them.
Shared interests can give friendship a place to begin. When someone is excited about your idea and adds something of their own, there is a reason to keep talking, keep playing, and look forward to seeing each other again.
At Simply Social Kids, our weekly groups give children and teens opportunities to discover those connections through games, creative activities, and play. Our expert coaches help them practice joining in, sharing ideas, making room for someone else’s ideas, and working through disagreements.
These boys were practicing all of that while doing something they loved. Their enjoyment was clear, and so was the value of having a place where other kids shared their enthusiasm.
If your child could use more opportunities to connect with peers, we invite you to schedule a phone intake and a free trial. We offer weekly groups in Tyngsboro and online, and we’ll help you explore whether a group would be a good fit.
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