1 A board game can pass the time. But be honest. The time would have passed anyway. The real point of educational board games is to give young people a chance to explore something. Many are based on discussions or quiz-style questions. So young people get to ask and answer questions that wouldn't have come up naturally. They can say what they think, while the focus on the game deflects self-consciousness.
2Games can often cover all the major issues involved with moving to adulthood and gaining independence - jobs, housing, money, sex and relationships are often covered well. There are games on managing emotions, such as aggression, as well as specific issues, such as bullying or masculinity. There are also awarenessraising themes, such as disability and inclusion, or global youth work. Pick a card, any card.
3Don't just hand out a game and let young people get on with it. By doing this you are doomed to realise only a small part of its potential, and there's a risk that a game that could have worked well will just flop. Most modern games are designed to be flexible and some will need a person to lead the way in setting it up. They require adaptation - which might involve removing cards or choosing what sections to use, and how. So spend time reading the instructions and thinking about the group. Even better, play the game among staff first to test out its potential. You might learn something about each other, too.
4One of the best uses of discussion-raising board games is to find out where young people are in their attitudes, knowledge, skills or understanding - and where they would like to be. But finding out is only the start. What you do next could take any form - from a programme of themed activities covering several weeks or just a one-off follow-up session. Either way, don't just let the issues raised dissolve.
5Some young people won't see the point unless there is an obvious competitive element and clear division between winners and losers. Others will not be too bothered, seeing the content of the game as what matters. Either is fine. Board games are available in both styles. Just don't mix the wrong group with the wrong style.
6If you can't find a game you want to play, get the group to invent one. Devising their own game consolidates their knowledge and understanding and results in a usable resource for other young people. You may even get it published. Current winners of the anti-bullying category in the Children and Young People's Services Awards devised a board game, Beat the Bully, based on their own experiences. Revenue from sales has funded further work on bullying.
