Equipped for Life (Revised Edition)

Equipped for Life is designed to help youths and young adults think and act responsibly. The board-game includes over 100 situation cards for each of two levels.

Topic areas include:

• Daily Living Education Relationships
• School Community
• Substance Abuse
• Employment
• After School Activities

As players move around the game board, they are asked to identify thinking errors and replace them with accurate thoughts and constructive action plans. In this way players not only see the negative effects of these thinking errors but also practice creating action plans that will result in improved self-management and consideration for other individuals and the community as a whole.

The four thinking errors are:

• Self-centred thinking
• Assuming the worst will happen and not working hard to avoid it
• Blaming others inappropriately
• Minimising problems and mislabelling individuals, such as labelling a victim of bullying as a “loser” in order to justify or condone the bullying.

There are also several speciality squares, such as Talent Show, where players name and demonstrate a talent, and Job Fair, where they explain why certain jobs interest them. The game box also includes score-cards, thinking error cards, which explain the thinking errors, and a facilitator booklet.

Players: 2-6 players (There are separate cards for middle school and high school/adult players.)

Grades 5-8 and 9-young adult