Learning about periods and the menstrual cycle with games

Let’s keep learning about periods with games! Today I will share four ideas with you how teenagers (uhhm … or maybe all of us!?) can keep learning about periods in a fun way. The four games are perfect for using the new time gained during the Corona-Quarantine to learn more about menstruation. With colouring books, board games or memory, you are learning about period knowledge and your general mindset will quickly improve. By playing period games, it naturally becomes something very normal and we are more relaxed when talking about it.

The general acceptance of periods increases as well. No more being ashamed or embarrased when talking and learning about our body. It is important that education is fun and includes activities that we enjoy doing. Emotional as well as practical information must be combined with scientific facts in a meaningful way. And we should always ask ourselves: How do we actually talk about menstruation with other people (especially the younger generation)?

The Period Game (board game)

‚The Period Game’ is a board game about menstruation. It is designed to change the way menstrual knowledge is taught in schools. Learning about menstruation has never been so easy and lively. It is an innovative idea to educate especially young people and to counteract period shame. The game guides us entertainingly and easily through different topics such as puberty, menstrual cycle, periods or PMS. All participants learn what happens in their (own) body. The game aims to turn a typically unpleasant situation into a fun and positive learning experience. It is impossible to not say words like menstruation or tampon  during the 30 minutes of the game. These words naturally slide over into the language we actively use and will be positively perceived (with the fun of playing). The goal of the game is to become a period expert. That is the only way to win.

Who’s behind the game?

Daniela Gilsanz and Ryan Murphy met at the Rhode Island School of Design in the US, where both studied industrial design. The idea for the game was born during a joint project at the university. Now they want to revolutionize the sex education in schools with ‘The Period Game’. They have also won the Red Dot Design Award.

Language: English

Website // Campaign on Kickstarter

Are you ready to finally understand your body & your mood swings better and learn cycle awareness? Then our online course “Cycle Awareness as a Superpower” is perfect for you!

Pussy Pairs (memory)

‘Pussy Pairs’ or also ‘Mumury’, is a memory game with vulva pictures. The memory is intended to raise awareness of vulva diversity and to celebrate the diversity of all people. It is both an artistic and slightly provocative icebreaker. It can be a visual aid in the context of sex education. But honestly, it helps all people to finally see real vulvas. The game challenges us and makes us think, because the prejudices against the sex organ of menstruating people are deeply rooted in us. Pussy Pairs wants to overcome not only prejudices but also feelings of shame and fear of touching the vulva. Instead, sexual autonomy and more self-love is being encouraged by showing pictures of real vulvas. The Memory also invites an open dialogue about aesthetic ideas and also doubts about our vulva. The aim is to find as many pairs of matching vulvas as possible.

Who’s behind the game?

Gloria Dimmel has been producing vulva replicas from clay in Vienna since 2017. By now more than 130 people have participated in her project. Also all 18 vulvas we get to see in the game are imprints of real people. A part of the proceeds will be donated to support the rights of womxn. A particular focus is genital mutilation of people with female genitalia, which affects around 200 million menstruators worldwide every year.

Website // Campaign on Startnext

Maubeschau (colouring book)

‚Maubeschau’ is a lovingly designed menstrual colouring book for people of all ages, which offers different vulva illustrations. Every drawing shows how different and beautiful the vulva can be. It is mainly intended for the moments during menstruation, to connect creatively and artistically with your own cycle. The aim is to develop a positive attitude towards the menstruating body and to experience vulva diversity. Coloring contributes to relaxation and invites us to deal with ourselves more deeply. The book also contains a menstrual calendar, where you can write down your mood and other characteristics during the menstrual cycle.

Who’s behind the coloring book?

Jenz Mau is an artist and writer, among other things. She writes mainly about sexuality and self-love. She is also publicly active as a prosex feminist and is committed to ensuring that all people can live sexually self-determined lives.

Languages: The texts in the book are in German and English

Website // Campaign on Startnext

OH WOMAN

Ignorance about one’s own body and its functions and procedures often leads to shame. And because it is simply not talked about often, this leads to a taboo in our society. This is exactly where OH WOMAN comes in. Here, players can learn about periods, the menstrual cycle and their bodies in a playful way and learn more about themselves and their fellows through the exciting game questions.

The game is committed to early sex education and aims to promote communication about one’s own body with fun, lightness and without shame in a relaxed atmosphere. It is aimed at children and young people between the ages of 10-17, their parents, guardians as well as people in an educational role and anyone who would like to know more about periods, the menstrual cycle and the body. The goal is to create a self-confident interaction without shame for each player through the ease, normality and open approach to health and sexuality.

Meanwhile, there is even the expansion pack OH WOMAN EDITION CONTRACEPTION, which was created in cooperation with the non-profit association Better Birth Control. The new expansion for players aged 14 and up contains 40 questions on the topic of contraception.

Photo Credits: OH WOMAN

Who is behind the game?

Steffi Renz and Tania Hernández – Bavarian Coolness meets Spanish temperament, that’s how the two founders of the branding and design studio what the fish® describe themselves. Inspired by art, culture and the feminist movement, Tania and Steffi have been developing start-ups and companies like OH WOMAN in their studio since 2019. With the game, they advocate for early education around sexuality through play and fun to encourage dialogue about one’s own body and break taboos.

Language: The game is available in German and English.

Website

Why should we keep learning about periods with games?

The idea of educational games is mainly to approach the subject in an respectful and fun way. It is best done in a loving and protected space that invites to ask questions. The active participation in the games encourages a healthy exploration of one’s own body, cycle and menstruation. Because the perception and awareness of one’s own body has a direct influence on how we feel about it. And the basic prerequisite for a natural and self-confident approach to topics such as menstruation or fertility is that (young) people feel comfortable in their own bodies and show appreciation for them. So lets all keep learning about periods with games!

Who are the games suitable for?


The target group for all fours of these games are actually children or teenagers, in order to support sex education at school (or at home). If we keep learning about periods with games, it is often easier for us. They are also nice presents for young people, preferably before their first menstruation. But honestly, I think that the games are suitable for people of all ages. Because the games are not just about classical education or improving knowledge. It is much more about changing one’s perspective and learning an unbiased perspective towards menstruation and sexuality.

The look into your cycle

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August 26, 2021
Britta Wiebe ist die Co-Gründerin von Vulvani. Am liebsten recherchiert, schreibt und konzipiert sie den ganzen Tag neue Artikel oder innovative Bildungsformate rund um Menstruation. Wenn sie nicht in der weiten Welt unterwegs ist, genießt sie ihre Zeit mit lieben Menschen im schönen Hamburg. | Facebook | Instagram | LinkedIn | Twitter

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