Core Values Game®

Many young people are insecure and searching for themselves. On their way to adulthood, they need to have different experiences to find answers to the questions "Who am I, what am I capable of, and what do I want?". Most young people do not find it easy to talk about these questions with adults (parents, teachers, and counselors). Connection at home and school is an important condition for learning, and sharing what moves you and is important in life.

As a parent of a bunch of teenagers, I noticed that young people could be much better guided in this process at school and home. That is why I developed the Core Values Game®. The Core Values Game® creates connection and fun and leads to in-depth conversations. It helps young people develop, especially in these difficult times with political tensions, war, and climate problems.

It brings together young and old, families and friends to share experiences, ideas, values, and insights.

The game can be played from ages 12 to 99, in small groups starting from 3 players, to larger groups of 20 players with 1 game.

The game is now also available in English.

For whom. 

• Families, relatives, and friends
• Secondary schools, e.g. in mentor lessons.
• Further education (colleges and university), e.g. during introduction programs.
• Teams at work.

The game contains:

• 60 Core Value Cards
• 7 Game Variants
• 9 Tip Cards

Below are three tiles with links for more depth and play:

• Explanation of Core Values: all core values in the game are explained in alphabetical order.
• Creative Thinking Techniques: 15-part explanation of Creative Thinking and various Creative Thinking Techniques.
• All professions from A to Z: with detailed descriptions, important competencies, corresponding training and courses, vacancies, salaries, and future prospects.

"Playing the Core Values Game®" workshop with teachers (in training)

For teachers (in training) who want to learn the full potential of the game first, before starting to use it with their students, I organize a workshop "Playing the Core Values Game." After playing several game variations, we discuss

• how you can use the game at school, for example in citizenship lessons, mentor lessons, a project week or during career orientation
• what you can use the different game variants for
• how to guide the game as a teacher and what is important in guiding.

I will come for an on-site play session. A workshop "Playing Core Values Game" with teachers takes two-and-a-half hours with a group size of minimum 4 and maximum 12 teachers and costs €715, excluding VAT, games and travel expenses. Contact me here for a quotation.

Play session "Playing Core Values Game" with pupils/students

Would you like me to come play the Core Values Game with your students? That's possible! I'll prepare the play session together with the teacher of the class in question. This teacher actively participates as a facilitator of the game. Cost: € 1,690 per class with a minimum of 15 and a maximum of 30 students. This amount excludes VAT, games and travel expenses. Contact me here for a quotation.

How did the Core Values Game® come about?

The game was created during the first COVID-19 lockdown in March 2020. Young people could no longer go to school and missed their social contacts immensely. Everyone was mainly working online all day. The world became a lot smaller and duller because of working from home, there was much less to tell each other and family members were suddenly together all day under one roof. As a result, tension and boredom often arose. The need to take a break from being behind a screen was growing, but yes, what to talk about at the table with each other? This is how the idea to create the Core Values Game® was born.

I have added more than 30 years of experience as a trainer and coach in communication skills, problem solving skills and creative thinking techniques into the game. I have also added my expertise as an Pedagogue, Art Therapist (a form of psychotherapy) and my experience as a mother of two growing daughters.

Active board game players have been involved in the development of the Core Values Game®, providing feedback on the game and its rules, ultimately resulting in seven different game variants. It is a serious game that leads to valuable conversations, but also a game with which you can win and lose and have a lot of fun playing together. The different game variants also stimulate creative thinking skills.

The game has been extensively tested by various audiences in different settings: adolescents, families, adult groups of friends, and experienced game players. My special thanks go to a Dutch champion board game player, who used his expertise in the development process of the game. Based on all the experiences of playing the game and all the advice, the game has been continuously improved to the current version.