Everett mom turns tough conversations into child’s play

The free app “Family Fusion” gets families talking – and laughing in no time at all. # k5abend

EVERETT, Wash – The family who play together stay out of trouble. That’s the idea behind Family Fusion, a game developed by Everett’s mother and educator Michele Madrigal with input from her own family.

“I’ve adjusted it accordingly,” said Madrigal.

Like most parents, Madrigal and her husband Gerardo realized early on how difficult it can be to bring up sensitive issues with their children.

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Madrigal said, “I just thought I had to do something about it.”

Fifteen years ago, Michele began designing and testing the game with her own daughters Brijonnay, Chardalise, and Jaidacyn, who grew into happy, healthy young adults.

“There are many role-playing games,” said Madrigal, “in which different scenes are re-enacted, such as peer pressure situations and how you can withstand this peer pressure.”

Talking to your children about drugs, peer pressure, or bullying can be difficult.

“We’re still kind of stuck as parents,” Madrigal said, “well, I don’t want to talk about inappropriate touching or the danger of strangers or alcohol or whatever. My kid probably doesn’t go there, does it? But if we choose not to go, someone else will come there. “

There is no better way to push the topic forward than with fun.

Family Fusion includes positive role-playing around hypothetical situations, from resisting peer pressure to taking action when others need help.

Madrigal said, “All of a sudden you and all of us are suffocating, what are we doing?”

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Now anyone can play the game, anywhere, by downloading Madrigal’s free app.

“So I can reach a lot more families,” she said.

It is not easy to talk to your children about things that are really important. But it’s a game that anyone can win.

“Even if it is difficult,” said Madrigal, “more than ever we must be the ones who stand up and talk to them about these things.”