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Zipland Interactive Game Helps Children Cope With Divorce[06.01.06]

A small group of child psychologists and therapists based in Israel have developed a new serious game called Earthquake in Zipland for the PC, a title which is specifically designed to help children aged 9-14 of separated and divorced parents to cope with the new reality in their lives.

The game takes the child on an adventure, while dealing with a number of important issues around divorce and separation, such as anger,guilt, split loyalties, the fantasy to reunite the divorced parents and more. Earthquake in Zipland not only offers the possibility of dealing with the issues of separation and divorce in an indirect way, but also opens the way to direct dialog.

The game offers a valuable tool that helps children, parents and therapists alike to interact and opens avenues of dialog otherwise not taken.

“Earthquake in Zipland is unique in the way that it deals with a situation no other game has ever dealt with, in a fun and entertaining way,” commented Chaya Harash, MSW Family Therapist and CEO of Israel-based Zipland Interactive. “Everyone knows that divorce has a terrible impact on the children involved. Now, parents and psychologists have a tool that can actually interact with a child whose parents are separated or divorced, in order to help him handle the drastic changes in his life”.

“The benefits and advantages of this sort of game are numerous”, said Hazel Zemel, an MSW, CSW, RSW and an accredited family therapist and supervisor with over 30 years of experience. “For the children, it is the first attempt at talking to them in their own “language”, dealing with a severe subject through humor and wit.”

She continued: “For the parents, the game broadens their understanding of the impact of the separation on their child, and offers a way to communicate and talk about painful issues the child might be otherwise reluctant to express. For therapists, this game can be used a strategy to get children to participate more actively in the therapy process, by discussing their feelings and thoughts through playing the game. It can be used either in the clinic or as a home "assignment", allowing the child to open-up more freely without feeling intimidated.”

More information about Earthquake in Zipland, as well as video tutorial of the game itself can be found on the title's official website.

By Jason Dobson
June 1, 2006 09:12:00 AM PT