A group of three kids gather around a D&D table and look at a page from the D&D Player’s handbook that is presented by Jennybird.

When I tell parents I use Dungeons & Dragons in speech therapy, I sometimes get a raised eyebrow, or even a whispered: “Isn’t that game…satanic?”

This reaction has deep roots. In the 1980s, D&D was caught up in what’s now called the “Satanic Panic.” This was a moral fear campaign that falsely connected the game to witchcraft, violence, and the occult. Despite decades of research and cultural acceptance, those echoes still linger. And so, some families wonder: Is this game appropriate for my child?

As a speech-language pathologist, a parent, and a lifelong lover of storytelling, I want to set the record straight.

Myth #1: D&D Is “Satanic”

The truth: D&D is no more satanic than The Lord of the Rings or How to Train Your Dragon. Yes, the game has magic, monsters, and dragons, but these are literary devices. They are tools for storytelling, not tools for worship.

Academic research on fantasy role-play shows that games like D&D are healthy outlets for imagination and do not lead to occult practices or harmful behavior (Fine, 2002; Laycock, 2015). In fact, anthropologist Joseph Laycock wrote an entire book dismantling this myth, Dangerous Games: What the Moral Panic over Role-Playing Games Says about Play, Religion, and Imagined Worlds.

Myth #2: D&D Promotes Violence

The truth: D&D is actually about choices, and often the most successful parties resolve conflicts through negotiation, collaboration, or creative problem-solving. Fighting a monster might happen, but so does deciding whether to share treasure fairly, protect a town, or help a friend. In the game, participants complete a heroic journey and along the way are faced with opportunities to make moral choices. The choices they make have natural consequences in the game. They may be asked to retrieve a stolen monument, save a town from the destructive dragon, or investigate the cause of the disappearance of all moss and lichen in the area. All of these choices are made and discussed in collaboration with their peers, fostering empathy, social reasoning, and problem-solving. These are skills children need to thrive. These games don’t promote violence; they promote critical thinking.

I also build an environment that is safe and age-appropriate. I use stories that match the interests, needs, and age of the players at the table. I also use safety tools and clear ground rules for how to handle violence, combat, and other challenging subjects to ensure everyone (including parents) are comfortable.

Myth #3: D&D Blurs Reality and Fantasy in Unhealthy Ways

The truth: Children already use fantasy play. Whether it’s pretending to be superheroes, playing house, or inventing elaborate make-believe worlds. D&D is simply a structured way to do what kids do naturally: explore imagination safely.

Role-play and storytelling help children build self-esteem, practice social skills, and experiment with identity. Importantly, the fantasy setting actually creates safety. It gives distance from real-world fears so children can explore them without being overwhelmed.

Myth #4: D&D Only Takes Place in a Medieval Fantasy World

The truth: While the classic Dungeons & Dragons setting includes castles, dragons, and knights, the game is far more flexible than that. D&D is really about collaborative storytelling, and the rules can adapt to almost any world you imagine.

I’ve run games in whimsical fairy-tale forests, in futuristic cities with super-heroes, even in silly mash-up worlds full of talking animals. In therapy, this flexibility is a huge strength: we can build settings around what your child loves; whether that’s outer space, superheroes, Minecraft, or an Ewok village.

D&D isn’t locked into one genre. It’s a tool for imagination.

The Positive Side Parents Often Miss

Here’s what I see at the table when kids play D&D:

Confidence grows. A shy child learns to speak up because their character must lead the group.
Friendships form. Kids who struggle socially find authentic ways to connect with peers over shared storytelling.
Empathy builds. Children consider the feelings and perspectives of characters unlike themselves.
Communication skills strengthen. Kids practice narrative storytelling, negotiation, and expressive language in ways that are fun and motivating.

The Bottom Line

Dungeons & Dragons is a game of storytelling, creativity, and connection. It gives kids a safe space to imagine, collaborate, and practice communication while having fun. At Jennybird Speech & Language, D&D becomes a tool for building language, confidence, empathy, and joyful social interaction.

When your child rolls the dice, they are stepping into a story that celebrates imagination, teamwork, and the power of communication.

Is Dungeons & Dragons Appropriate for Kids? (Spoiler: Yes.)