{"id":515,"date":"2026-08-23T16:36:13","date_gmt":"2026-08-23T14:36:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/3d6.ovh\/?post_type=docs&#038;p=515"},"modified":"2026-08-23T16:36:13","modified_gmt":"2026-08-23T14:36:13","password":"","slug":"playing-with-children","status":"publish","type":"docs","link":"https:\/\/3d6.ovh\/index.php\/en\/3d6\/playing-with-children\/","title":{"rendered":"Playing with children"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Playing with children means adapting pace, clarity, guidance and expectations. This chapter offers simple guidelines to keep sessions smooth, safe and fun.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Pace: short games and simple scenes<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Children have a limited attention span. To avoid tiredness and disengagement:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Favour sessions of 30 to 90 minutes depending on age.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Break the story into short scenes with a clear stake.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Reduce waiting times: everyone must get to act regularly.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Alternate moments of action, discussion, listening and discovery.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>End the session before the first signs of restlessness or weariness.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Tip: a \u201cproblem \u2192 choice \u2192 consequence\u201d structure works very well.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Attention: capturing and holding interest<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">To keep children engaged:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Present situations in a concrete and visual way.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Use their interests if you know them (animals, magic, food, etc.).<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Vary your approaches: questions, objects to touch, quick drawings, facial expressions.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Give NPCs simple, recognisable traits (a voice, a tic, a catchphrase).<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Rephrase often and check their understanding with short questions.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Children respond well to repetition, small mysteries and decisions with a limited set of choices.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Introducing the rules gradually<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">There is no need to explain the whole system before playing. Do not aim for absolute precision: favour a smooth flow.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Proceed step by step:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol start=\"1\" class=\"wp-block-list\">\n\n<li>Start without rules: description, choices, free narration.<\/li>\n\n\n<li>Introduce dice rolls only when an action is uncertain.<\/li>\n\n\n<li>Explain successes and complications after a first roll.<\/li>\n\n\n<li>Add the energy reserve once they have got the hang of the game&#8217;s rhythm.<\/li>\n\n\n<li>Introduce marvels once the basics are mastered.<\/li>\n\n\n<li>Add rerolls.<\/li>\n\n\n<li>Finally, add advantages and disadvantages.<\/li>\n\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Emotional safety: a clear and reassuring framework<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Children must know that they are playing in a safe environment:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>No detailed violence and no themes that are too heavy.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Threats should be symbolic rather than traumatic.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>PCs do not die: they fail, learn, or are put out of action.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Let them say \u201cstop\u201d or \u201clet\u2019s change this\u201d at any time.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Always make sure the story ends on a positive \u2014 or at least a soothed \u2014 resolution.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Participation: encouraging guided creativity<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Children love seeing their ideas shape the story. Encourage them, but give them a framework:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Ask open but simple questions regularly.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Value their suggestions, even imperfect ones.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Let them create details (an animal\u2019s name, the colour of a door, etc.).<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Offer two or three clear choices rather than a wide range of options.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Use their ideas to feed the next scene.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Closing a session<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">After the game:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Go around the table: \u201cWhat did you like best?\u201d<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Sum up what the characters achieved.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Give them one small thing to remember: an object, a memory, a grateful NPC.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Hint at what could come next time.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Playing with children means adapting pace, clarity, guidance and expectations. This chapter offers simple guidelines to keep sessions smooth, safe and fun. Pace: short games and simple scenes Children have a limited attention span. To avoid tiredness and disengagement: Tip: a \u201cproblem \u2192 choice \u2192 consequence\u201d structure works very well. Attention: capturing and holding interest [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"doc_category":[41],"doc_tag":[],"class_list":["post-515","docs","type-docs","status-publish","hentry","doc_category-appendices"],"year_month":"2026-08","word_count":433,"total_views":0,"reactions":{"happy":0,"normal":0,"sad":0},"author_info":{"name":"admin","author_nicename":"admin-2","author_url":"https:\/\/3d6.ovh\/index.php\/author\/admin-2\/"},"doc_category_info":[{"term_name":"Appendices","term_url":"https:\/\/3d6.ovh\/index.php\/en\/3d6-category\/appendices\/"}],"doc_tag_info":[],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/3d6.ovh\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/docs\/515","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/3d6.ovh\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/docs"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/3d6.ovh\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/docs"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/3d6.ovh\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/3d6.ovh\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=515"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/3d6.ovh\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/docs\/515\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":516,"href":"https:\/\/3d6.ovh\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/docs\/515\/revisions\/516"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/3d6.ovh\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=515"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"doc_category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/3d6.ovh\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/doc_category?post=515"},{"taxonomy":"doc_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/3d6.ovh\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/doc_tag?post=515"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}