Boundaries are essential for positive relationships with peers and adults; children who act out are often asking for the security of clear boundaries and the skills needed to respect them.

This game utilizes a baseball diamond format as a visual reminder for not going out of bounds. As part of the action of the play, students will also have opportunities to toss a “ball” so that it stays within the boundaries of a “strike zone.”

Game cards teach four kinds of boundaries:

1. Saying and accepting “No”
   
2. Managing strong emotions (called feelings in the game)
   
3. Respecting personal space and property
   
4. Relationship/communication limits (called friendship in the game)

Players use a special spinner to see what happens for each pitch. For example, they could get a strike, a ball, a single, or a pop fly out. Players move their pawns, counterclockwise around the diamond. Their pawns are the baseball player's picture above. The players then advance according to the instructions on the spinner and pick and answer cards that match the color of the space landed on.

The four decks of cards correspond to the four categories of boundaries mentioned above. When players reach home plate, they add one to their score on the scoreboard, which is pictured at the top of the game board. A summary of the rules of baseball is included for those players not familiar with the game of baseball.

Suitable for Grades 1-6. Playing time: 25-60 minutes. 2008.

Check out this book for adults which also deals with the issue of boundaries: Boundaries: When to Say Yes, How to Say No, to Take Control of Your Life.

IFL

0710