Parents' Guide to My Child Lebensborn

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Common Sense Media Review

Mieke VanderBorght By Mieke VanderBorght , based on child development research. How do we rate?

age 12+

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

Parents Need to Know

Why Age 12+?

Any Positive Content?

Parent and Kid Reviews

age 12+

Based on 3 parent reviews

age 13+

Based on 5 kid reviews

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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 ( 5 ):

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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