Young children can have a difficult time managing their emotions and behaviors. Dr. Jason Kahn of the Boston Children’s Hospital has cooked up a special tool to aid in this trying period: a tablet video game called Mightier. On its own, Mightier seems to be a simple collection of kid-friendly mini-games and puzzles. The special element is a heart monitor wristband that the player wears as they play.
An in-game meter visualizes the player’s heart rate, flashing and turning red as it rises. As the heart rate rises, the game becomes more difficult. To lower the difficulty, the player must perform calming motions and breathing exercises (presented by the game) to lower their heart rate. In this way, players learn how to calm themselves in a stressful situation, a vital skill they can utilize in their daily lives.
