G.A.M.E.star Fun games to silently detect Bullying, Abuse, and Cognitive Issues in Children

Children often face challenges that go unnoticed, such as bullying, abuse, or cognitive difficulties. These issues can deeply affect their well-being and development. Detecting them early is crucial, but traditional methods may feel intrusive or intimidating for kids. G.A.M.E.star offers a fresh approach by using fun, silent games that help identify these problems without making children feel uncomfortable.

Guardian Angel figure with blue sky and clouds background, symbolizing protection and care

What is G.A.M.E.star?

G.A.M.E.star stands for Guardian Angels Metrics by Experts. It is a set of interactive games designed to quietly assess children's emotional and cognitive health. The games are engaging and feel like regular playtime, but they collect valuable data on how children respond to different situations. This data helps experts identify if a child is experiencing bullying, abuse, or cognitive issues.

The results from these games fall into three categories:

• Normal: The child demonstrates typical responses and no immediate concerns.

• Super Kid: The child shows strong resilience, talents, and/or positive coping skills.

• Needs Help: The child may be facing challenges that require further attention.

  
  

How G.A.M.E.star Works

The games use subtle cues and patterns to detect signs of distress or difficulty. For example, a game might involve problem-solving tasks, social interaction scenarios, or memory challenges. Children do not realize they are being assessed, which reduces anxiety and encourages honest reactions.

Here are some ways G.A.M.E.star helps:

• Silent detection: Children play naturally without feeling tested.

• Early identification: Problems are spotted before they escalate.

• Non-invasive: No direct questioning about sensitive topics.

• Data-driven: Experts analyze gameplay metrics for accurate insights and create a scoreboard to keep the games simple and consistent.

  
  

Benefits for Parents and Educators

G.A.M.E.star provides a valuable tool for adults who care for children. Parents and teachers can use the results to understand a child's needs better and take appropriate steps. For example, if a child is flagged as "Needs Help," they can be connected with counselors or support groups promptly.

This approach also encourages a supportive environment where children feel safe. Since the games are fun and engaging, kids are more likely to participate willingly, making the detection process smoother and more effective.

Examples of G.A.M.E.star in Action

• G.A.M.E.star games are played for free under the supervision of a doctor, nurse, or trained intern. A child gives clues to bullying, abuse and/or cognitive issues in the games and based upon a weighted scoreboard and may be placed in the "Needs Help" category, with the supporting details for a summary report.

• The supervisor takes a close look at the child to visually detect signs of abuse or bulling, as well as +/- physical symptoms, such as: good speech, a show of confidence, rashes, quick reactions, eye twitching, lack of eye contact, posture problems, hand tremors, etc. using a professional scoreboard to log her (his) observations. These visual scoreboard findings are added to the game results. Scoring as a "Super Kid," shows strong adaptability and/or a high rating in different parts of the games.

• G.A.M.E.star games can be very helpful as an initial screen for cognitive or emotional problems. However, the games are just points of concern to allow parents to take further steps to help their child who scores "Needs Help".

• And of course, most kids will have fun playing the games and will score as "Normal".

Divide and Conquer playing games

The GAMEs are defined by 3 age groups: 4-8 yo, 8-12 yo, and 12-18+ yo. Each age group plays 3 types of games: Family, Friends, and Fun. All games are free for those 18 or younger. For 19 yo and older, there is a token charge of $3 for the three games.

No matter what the age group:

In Family, AMHC determines the possibility of abuse, who it could be, and the type of abuse (mental or physical).

In Friends, AMHC determines if there is a bully, who is the bully, is the child the bully, and the type of bullying (PHYSICAL, VERBAL, SOCIAL, CYBER, EMOTIONAL, OR SEXUAL).

In Fun, AMHC determines 5 different types of cognitive problems as determined by expert psychologists who contributed their analytics for the games. These indicators are not meant to be conclusive, only guides for further investigation by the parent or hired professional(s) by the parent.

Within each age group, the type of games are different:

Group 1: For 4-8 year olds, the games are highly graphic and usually jungle scenes with smiling jungle animals ( a Disney type approach).

Group 2: For 8-12 year olds, the games are more competitive and cartoon type helicopters and airplanes are the main focus of attention. More of an "fun action" type approach.

Group 3: For 12-18 year olds, the games are more complex and involve answering questions for certain puzzles and/or conditions. More of a "mystery detective" type approach.

Moving Forward with G.A.M.E.star

Using games and trained observation to detect bullying, abuse, and cognitive issues offers a promising way to support children’s mental and physical health. G.A.M.E.star combines expert knowledge with child-friendly technology to create a safe space for early detection.