Prospectus

Section 1: Address to the editor

Dear Editor,
I would like to present a topic to you that I have been investigating into that, I believe, will go
perfectly in your respectable magazine, BLAH BLAH. The topic I have been researching is simply
children and board games; more specifically, the influence board games have on children and their
response and social development as a result. I believe this topic is an important one for many reasons.
Todays children are exposed to a variety of media: television, video games, movies, music, etc. The
effects of these various forms of communication have been extensively, and almost exhaustingly,
researched and published- the effects of board games, however, have been far and few in between.
In my article, I plan to explore the root first, what has already been researched into and studied on
numerous occasions, child development. How does creative play and role-playing correspond into non-
game situations? We all know, to some extent, that creativity is what impacts a childs emotional health
and experiences during their beginning years of life. Creativity and immersement into a character outside
themselves promotes mental development by supplying opportunities to try out new ideas, ways of
problem-solving, and critical thinking, even on the most basic level. Simply put, the problem solving and
strategy involved in board games can significantly impact a child outside of the game itself. How,
though? That is what I intend to look into.
In todays society, individuals are expected to develop into model citizens- ones with good social
skills, respectable boundaries, and proper sportsmanship. Through board games, which lean on mechanics
such as cooperation, children are encouraged to develop these specific skills and traits. Children must
interact and work with other children in order to achieve a goal. This directly relates to every day life of
an older individual in the common work place. When a child is playing against other children, they must
learn boundaries and respect in social situations. The social dynamics that are impacted through
cooperative game playing are more extensive than one might first assume.


Other areas of study for my topic can also touch the opposite side of development- the
development of a childrens board game. The aspects that appeal to a child, the lessons that accompany it,
as well as the physical design itself. I hope youll genuinely take my idea into consideration when making
your decision.

Sincerely,
Emily Hagenbuch

Section 2: Working Thesis
Through design and various mechanics, childrens board games help promote a variety of social
dynamics including healthy competition, good social skills, as well as create an organized structure for
kids to grow into productive, respectful citizens.

Section 3: Your Sources
Peppler, Kylie, Joshua A. Danish, and David Phelps. "Collaborative Gaming: Teaching Children
about Complex Systems and Collective Behavior." Simulation & Gaming 44.5 (2013): 683-705.
Print.

Collaborative Gaming: Teaching Children about Complex Systems and Collective Behavior is a
useful source because it directly examines the relationship of board games and children through their own
uniquely designed board game, Hivemind. They look into the collaborative components of game playing
and how they effect children outside of the game.

Building on this literature, our research explores how game designs that promote either competitive or
collaborative play may lead to differential outcomes including dramatically different and social
dynamics.



Glasberg, Davita Silfen, et al. "Games Children Play: An Exercise Illustrating Agents of
Socialization." Teaching Sociology 26.2 (1998): 130-9. Print.

This article relates to my paper perfectly because it points out that games have a larger effect on
children and their development into adults than first assumed. While it does not specifically explore board
games and their effect, the conclusions made throughout the article can easily relate and support my thesis
while writing my paper.

Most introductory sociology text books identify the main socialization agents of this process as family,
peers, schools, work, media, and religion. What is far less often acknowledged is the contribution that
childrens toys and games play in representing and reinforcing dominant conceptions of appropriate
social identities

Beale, Katy, and Pat Villeneuve. Museums at Play : Games, Interaction and Learning. Edinburgh:
MuseumsEtc, 2011. Print.

While this books primary focus is museum and cultural contexts, it still touches my topic
and thesis by drawing on the experience of game designers and examining new opportunities for
interactivity through gaming. Interactivity is a key feature to board games and this can translate
well into the use of interactivity in childrens games.


Section 4: Research Plan


I plan to look for research most obviously through the databases found on FSUs Library
Homepage as well as the library itself. I could take a primary route and interview family or friends and
inquire into the lessons they learned from board games at a young age or their experiences with board
games overall as a child. My area of study can also broaden into the design and physical aspects of
childrens board games so I can ask young kids that I know what draws them to a specific board game.