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Parents' Guide to

My Child Lebensborn

By Mieke VanderBorght, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 12+

Moving, immersive role-play about post-WWII discrimination.

App iPhone , iPod Touch , iPad , Android Paid Role-Playing Games
My Child Lebensborn Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this app.

  • My Child Lebensborn App: Screenshot #1
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  • My Child Lebensborn App: Screenshot #5

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age 14+

Based on 3 parent reviews

Movies139
Movies139 Adult
August 1, 2023
age 12+
jossminion
jossminion Adult
November 17, 2022
age 13+

Educational, but emotionally intense and potentially triggering.

CW: CSA, bullying. This is a very heavy, emotionally disturbing game. Absolutely too mature for young children, but could be suitable for children over the age of 12 with parental involvement. It is very well-researched, both in terms of the historical aspect and the effects of trauma on young children. It is also very effective at getting the player to emotionally invest in their fictional child. This is honestly a brilliant and deeply impactful way to teach about the experiences of Lebensborn children after WWII. As a parent, I shed many tears while playing this game, and at one point even cried out loud in devastation. Parents and teens should be aware that it contains child sex abuse and the aftermath thereof, as well as severe bullying and other trauma. It could potentially be very triggering for anyone impacted by similar trauma.
See all 3 parent reviews

Privacy Rating Warning

  • Unclear whether personal information is sold or rented to third parties.
  • Unclear whether personal information are shared for third-party marketing.
  • Unclear whether this product displays personalised advertising.
  • Unclear whether data are collected by third-parties for their own purposes.
  • Unclear whether this product uses a user's information to track and target advertisements on other third-party websites or services.
  • Unclear whether this product creates and uses data profiles for personalised advertisements.
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What’s It About?

In MY CHILD LEBENSBORN, kids choose to play with Klaus or Karin, and thus starts their journey through one year as the adoptive parent of a six-year-old in post-WWII Norway. With each day, tap the screen to advance Klaus/Karin's dialogue and choose from two or three options what to say in response. Throughout the narrative, players are also in charge of feeding, bathing, earning money, sending Klaus/Karin to school, looking into Klaus/Karin's biological heritage, and spending quality time with Klaus/Karin. Each choice kids make affects how the story continues. A journal provides additional information and historical context.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (3 ):
Kids say (4 ):

This powerful story introduces complex themes in an accessible game format. By stepping into the shoes of an adult trying to care for little Klaus/Karin and kids get a real sense of the struggles and difficulties people in similar situations faced. It's heartbreaking to see the delightfully eager Klaus/Karin turn sullen after being bullied at school by schoolmates and teachers. Klaus/Karin has no idea why the others are picking on them, and kids decide how much and how kindly to let Klaus/Karin know about her biological past. As a game, My Child Lebensborn is a bit simplistic. The dialogue choices aren't always great, and it's not always clear how your choices influence how the story goes. Despite that, play feels relatively smooth and well-integrated with the narrative. This story of people being punished by society for things beyond their control is timeless, and My Child Lebensborn could be a nice starting point for in-depth discussion in your family.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about the many difficult themes that My Child Lebensborn introduces. Can you understand why the townspeople were so angry at Klaus/Karin? Is it fair? Explore hate, acceptance, anger towards a (past) enemy, innocence, blame, bullying, and survival after a devastating war. Follow the story along with your kids and ask what their feeling and thinking during the more difficult parts of the narrative.

  • If your kids are interested in finding out more about the real Lebensborn children, help them research on the internet or at the library.

  • Help your kids make connections to other similar circumstances in the past or present. Are there other situations in which people are picked on because of something they have no control over?

App Details

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