New Publication by Roll Play and Grow researchers

New Research Article Published: Tabletop Roleplaying Games and Social-Emotional Learning in Schools

Roll Play and Grow is thrilled to announce the publication of our latest research article, Tabletop Roleplaying Games and Social-Emotional Learning in School Settings, featured in the journal Social and Emotional Learning: Research, Practice, and Policy!

This work represents an important step in expanding the evidence base for using tabletop roleplaying games (TRPGs) as a tool for fostering social-emotional learning (SEL) in educational environments. As advocates for play-based learning and structured storytelling, we are excited to contribute to the growing body of research demonstrating how TRPGs can support students in developing essential SEL skills such as:

🔹 Self-Regulation – Managing emotions and impulses in a dynamic, cooperative setting
🔹 Self-Awareness – Recognizing personal strengths, weaknesses, and emotional responses
🔹 Social Awareness – Understanding perspectives, empathy, and group dynamics
🔹 Responsible Decision-Making – Navigating in-game moral dilemmas and consequences
🔹 Relationship Skills – Building teamwork, communication, and conflict resolution abilities

Our research explores how TRPGs provide an immersive, low-risk environment where students can practice these skills while engaging in collaborative storytelling. Through structured narratives, character interactions, and guided reflection, TRPGs offer a unique approach to SEL that goes beyond traditional classroom instruction.

At Roll Play and Grow, our mission has always been to bridge the gap between gaming and social-emotional development, offering educators and mental health professionals tools to engage students in meaningful learning experiences. With this publication, we are proud to reinforce the growing recognition of TRPGs as a valuable educational tool.

We invite educators, therapists, and game facilitators to explore this research and consider how roleplaying games can be integrated into school-based SEL programs. This is just the beginning—our team is committed to continuing this research, developing new resources, and helping more professionals use TRPGs to make a difference in students’ lives.

Stay tuned for more updates as we push forward in our mission to grow the world of game-based learning!

📖 Want to read the full study?

💬 Join the conversation! Have you used TRPGs in your school or therapy practice? We’d love to hear your experiences—share your thoughts in the comments!

Exciting News!

Roll Play and Grow Now Offers NBCC-Approved Continuing Education Credits

We are thrilled to announce that Roll Play and Grow has officially been approved by the National Board for Certified Counselors (NBCC) to offer 8 hours of continuing education (CE) credits for our training, "Using Tabletop Roleplaying Games for Social-Emotional Learning."

This approval is a major step forward in our mission to provide high-quality training for therapists, counselors, educators, and professionals who want to use tabletop roleplaying games (TRPGs) to teach and develop social-emotional learning (SEL) skills.

Upcoming Training Event – Earn Your CE Hours!

To celebrate this milestone, we are hosting a live online and in-person training session this June:

📅 Dates: June 7th & June 14th
📍 Format: Available both online and in-person
⏳ Total CE Hours: 8 Hours (NBCC-approved)
💰 Cost:

• $200 per person

• Group Rate: The first participant is $200, and each additional member of the group is only $100

This training will guide participants through:
✅ The fundamentals of tabletop roleplaying games and their history
✅ How to implement TRPGs in therapeutic and educational settings
✅ Using TRPGs to develop self-regulation, relationship skills, social awareness, responsible decision-making, and self-awareness
✅ Strategies for story creation, game mastering, and group management
✅ Hands-on practice and interactive roleplay exercises

This is a fantastic opportunity to gain valuable skills, earn CE credits, and join a growing community of professionals integrating games into therapy, education, and mental health care.

Reserve Your Spot Today!

Spots are limited, so be sure to register early to take advantage of this exciting opportunity.

New Research Paper Accepted for Publication

We just got a paper accepted to a peer-reviewed journal! Here are the highlights of our paper. We’ll share a link to the paper once it is finalized and available online.

Unlocking Social and Emotional Learning with Tabletop Role-Playing Games in Schools

In recent years, educators and mental health professionals have explored innovative ways to teach social and emotional learning (SEL) in schools. Traditional SEL programs often rely on structured curricula, roleplay exercises, and group discussions. But what if there was a way to seamlessly integrate SEL into an engaging and immersive experience for students? Enter tabletop role-playing games (TRPGs).

What Are Tabletop Role-Playing Games?

Tabletop role-playing games (TRPGs) are imagination-based group storytelling games where players assume the roles of fictional characters. Guided by a game master (GM), players navigate complex narratives, interact with each other, solve problems, and make critical decisions that shape their collective story. While most people recognize Dungeons & Dragons (D&D) as the most famous TRPG, many other systems exist, each designed to foster creativity, collaboration, and critical thinking.

Why TRPGs Are a Perfect Fit for SEL

SEL encompasses essential skills such as self-awareness, self-management, social awareness, relationship skills, and responsible decision-making. These competencies help students navigate life’s challenges, improve academic performance, and develop into well-rounded individuals.

The immersive nature of TRPGs makes them an ideal tool for practicing these skills. As players engage in their roles, they:

• Develop empathy by understanding their characters and the perspectives of others.

• Practice teamwork through group decision-making and problem-solving.

• Enhance emotional regulation by managing conflicts and unexpected challenges.

• Improve communication skills through in-game conversations and negotiations.

• Foster critical thinking by analyzing situations and making strategic choices.

The Three Tiers of SEL and TRPG Implementation

Schools typically use a three-tier system for SEL interventions:

1. Tier 1 (Universal Interventions): These programs are integrated into everyday classroom activities for all students. TRPGs can be used in general education settings to introduce SEL concepts in a fun and interactive way.

2. Tier 2 (Targeted Interventions): Designed for students who need additional SEL support, TRPGs can be implemented in small group settings where facilitators tailor narratives to target specific SEL goals.

3. Tier 3 (Intensive Interventions): For students requiring specialized support, TRPGs can be used in therapeutic settings, led by trained mental health professionals to address deep-rooted emotional and behavioral challenges.

The Science Behind TRPGs in SEL

A growing body of research supports the effectiveness of TRPGs in fostering SEL. Studies have shown that TRPGs help players build social competencies, enhance emotional intelligence, and improve executive functioning. TRPGs align closely with Albert Bandura’s Social Learning Theory, which emphasizes learning through observation, modeling, and social interaction.

Additionally, Lev Vygotsky’s work on the role of play in cognitive development suggests that imaginative play provides children with opportunities to practice real-world behaviors in a controlled environment. TRPGs create a structured yet flexible space where students can experiment with decision-making, face moral dilemmas, and experience natural consequences, all within a safe and supportive framework.

Overcoming Challenges in Implementing TRPGs in Schools

Despite their potential, integrating TRPGs into school settings comes with challenges. Some barriers include:

• Teacher Training: Not all educators are familiar with TRPGs. Training programs can help teachers and school counselors effectively facilitate game sessions.

• Time Constraints: Many educators worry about fitting TRPGs into existing curricula. However, sessions can be designed as short activities or used in after-school programs.

• Inclusivity Concerns: Historically, TRPGs have been perceived as a niche hobby. However, recent trends indicate increasing diversity among players, making TRPGs a more inclusive tool for SEL.

• Perceived Complexity: Some commercial TRPG systems have complex rule sets. Fortunately, simplified TRPGs, such as Legends of Lorem, are being developed specifically for educational and therapeutic settings.

Real-World Examples of TRPGs in SEL

Several case studies highlight the successful integration of TRPGs in SEL programs:

• School-Based Programs: Some educators have introduced TRPGs in after-school clubs, allowing students to engage in structured role-playing activities that reinforce SEL concepts.

• Therapeutic Applications: Mental health professionals have used TRPGs to help students with anxiety, autism, and social communication difficulties improve interpersonal skills in a low-risk environment.

• International Models: Schools worldwide, including those in the UK and Germany, have begun experimenting with TRPGs as part of broader SEL initiatives.

The Future of TRPGs in Education

As research on TRPGs in educational settings continues to grow, there is an increasing need for structured programs, professional development for educators, and controlled studies measuring their long-term impact. The potential of TRPGs as a cost-effective, engaging, and scalable SEL intervention is vast, making them a valuable tool for educators looking to foster resilience, emotional intelligence, and social competence in students.

Final Thoughts

Tabletop role-playing games offer a unique and powerful way to teach SEL skills in schools. By immersing students in rich narratives, fostering collaboration, and providing opportunities for real-time problem-solving, TRPGs create a dynamic learning environment that is both engaging and effective. As educational institutions seek innovative ways to support student development, TRPGs may well be the key to unlocking a new era of social and emotional learning.

For educators, therapists, and administrators interested in exploring TRPGs as an SEL tool, now is the perfect time to start rolling the dice and shaping the future of learning—one story at a time.

Roll Play and Grow Sponsors the Southern Oregon Cubing Competition – A Huge Success!

This past weekend, Roll Play and Grow had the incredible opportunity to sponsor the Southern Oregon Cubing Competition, and we couldn’t be more thrilled with how it turned out! The event brought together an amazing community of problem-solvers, speedcubers, and puzzle enthusiasts for a day of intense competition, personal growth, and a shared love of the Rubik’s Cube. And to top it all off, history was made—one competitor set a new world record!

World Record Holder!

More Than Just a Puzzle: Social-Emotional Learning Through Cubing

At Roll Play and Grow, our mission is to use games and interactive storytelling to develop essential social-emotional learning (SEL) skills. While cubing might seem like a solo activity at first glance, the world of speedcubing is actually an incredible platform for developing key SEL competencies, including:

🧠 Self-Regulation & Emotional Resilience Speedcubing requires patience, focus, and the ability to manage frustration. Whether a solve goes perfectly or results in an unexpected mishap, competitors learn to regulate their emotions, stay composed under pressure, and push through setbacks.

💡 Self-Awareness & Growth Mindset Competitors constantly evaluate their performance, identify areas for improvement, and set goals for their next attempts. This process of self-reflection fosters a growth mindset—the belief that effort and learning lead to improvement.

🤝 Social Awareness & Relationship Skills Despite the competitive nature of the event, the cubing community is one of camaraderie and mutual support. Participants cheer each other on, share solving strategies, and build friendships through their shared passion, reinforcing teamwork and social connection.

⚖️ Responsible Decision-Making & Problem-Solving Speedcubing isn’t just about fast fingers—it’s about strategy, adaptability, and making split-second decisions. Competitors develop critical problem-solving skills and learn to evaluate different approaches in real time, a skill that translates into everyday life challenges.

A Celebration of Dedication and Achievement

The Southern Oregon Cubing Competition wasn’t just about setting records—it was a celebration of hard work, determination, and the spirit of learning through play. Watching competitors of all ages support one another, challenge themselves, and push their personal limits was inspiring. As a company dedicated to using games to enhance social-emotional learning, we were honored to be part of this event.

Looking Forward

We’re excited to continue supporting events that encourage skill-building, strategic thinking, and community connection. Whether through tabletop roleplaying games or competitive puzzle-solving, we believe in the power of play to transform lives.

A huge congratulations to all the participants, and especially to the new world record holder! Keep solving, keep growing, and keep playing!

Want to Learn More?

If you’re interested in how games like Legends of Lorem and other interactive experiences can support social-emotional development, stay connected with us at RollPlayAndGrow.com. We can’t wait to share more ways that play can build a brighter future!