One of the six games
The Gauntlet
Staying steady when things are hard (frustration tolerance)
What the kid practices: Facing a frustrating challenge and watching the frustration meter rise. Choosing responses that keep it in check: a breath, a break, trying again.
Good for: Frustration · Giving up quickly · Outbursts · Perfectionism · Trouble handling mistakes
Free. Kids never need an account. Therapists and parents can guide from their own screen.
A good match when the kid is working on: frustration when things get hard.
The stories
Each story is about a character the kid's age. Because it is about someone else, a kid can think through a hard situation without having to admit it is theirs.
Blake: the essay that didn't save
Blake spent two hours writing a really important essay for English class. Just as he was about to save the final version, the computer crashed. When it restarted, the file was completely gone. Not even auto-save worked.
Jamie: a sibling barging in on a video call
Jamie is on an important video call with friends working on a school project. Her younger sibling keeps barging into the room, making loud noises, and waving at the camera. She's asked them to stop three times already.
Dakota: blamed for something another kid did
Another kid was throwing paper balls in class. The teacher turned around, saw one land near Dakota, and blamed her. Dakota tried to explain, but the teacher said 'I don't want to hear excuses' and gave her a detention.
Cameron: lag in the final round
Cameron was winning a competitive online game — the best game he'd ever played. During the final round, the internet lagged for 10 seconds. When it came back, his team had lost. The whole team is blaming him for 'going AFK.'
Morgan: a favorite hoodie returned stained
Morgan lent her favorite hoodie — the one she saved up for months to buy — to a friend. When the friend returned it, there was a big stain on the front. The friend just said 'oh, sorry about that' like it was no big deal.
Reese: a test that felt unfair
Reese studied harder than ever for a science test — flash cards, notes, practice problems, everything. But half the test questions were on material the teacher never actually covered in class. A bad grade is coming despite all that effort.