Educational games can be a great way to help autistic and other neurodivergent children learn and practice new skills. Social Cipher is a fun and engaging game for youth 10 to 15 years old to learn social skills and better understand emotions. Read my review below.
Game: Social Cipher
Description of the game:
Social Cipher is a social-emotional learning (SEL) platform that “connects youth of all neurotypes and their advocates (counselors, teachers, mental health professionals) in an immersive virtual world.” The game was created for autistic and other neurodivergent children and teens ages 10 to 15.
In every episode of the game, the main character Ava meets new friends and navigates different situations with space pirates. While she does this, Ava learns about herself and her unique strengths and challenges. This helps her (and more importantly your youth!) better understand their neuroversity.
Gill said in a L.A. Parent article that the character Ava is based on a girl who helps them test the game.
Who developed it?
Social Cipher was founded by Vanessa Gill, who was diagnosed with Asperger’s Syndrome when she was 14 years old. She graduated from Claremont McKenna College in California with a degree in Neuroscience and was able to use her interests in art, science and technology in the development of the platform.
Gill and her team worked with more than 70 educators, mental health professionals and counselors to obtain their input into the design. The game also includes curriculum to help encourage discussions after the episodes so that your child is getting the most from learning these valuable skills.
How could a social-emotional learning game benefit my child?
Social-emotional learning games benefit autistic and other neurodivergent children and teens in many ways. They can include:
- Improved social awareness
- Better understanding of their own and others’ emotions
- Increased self management
- Enhanced relationship building skills
- Improved decision-making skills
- Increased self-advocacy and self-confidence
I played the game myself, and I wish this had been available when my son J was a bit younger. I think he would have really liked it and learned a lot from the game. It was fun and kept me engaged in it. I also really liked how the social and emotional learning was rolled into the game, and I had to make decisions about what I would do along the way. I can see why the game helps improve decision-making as the child has to learn how to navigate the space pirates and make good decisions for herself and to help her friend.
How do I purchase the game?
This game would be ideal for teachers, schools, speech therapists, mental health professionals and autism behavior analysis (ABA) centers to purchase. It’s also available for parents to purchase for their children.
You can purchase the game at Social Cipher (affiliate link). The current cost (as of 2022) is an annual subscription of $99 for one to five students or children. It is $149 annually for six to 10 students or children. If you sign up, be sure to use my affiliate code TAMARA10.
Has your child used this or another social-emotional learning platform before? What benefit did you see for your child? Leave a comment so that we can share and encourage each other along this journey.
