Online Social Gaming: Meeting ND youth where they're at

While we do not require a diagnosis to participate in this non-therapeutic group, most of our participants are neurodivergent and have diagnoses of Autism, ADHD, and/or social anxiety.

Game On will be most appropriate for kids who are able to independently function in a classroom, but might need moderate support in socializing with others. While they can carry on a conversation, the topics may be narrow or their interactions may seem "odd" to people who are neurotypical. Your child should be able to follow most directions independently and learn new games with demonstration, visuals, or verbal assistance.

 Our online groups bring the joy of gaming and friendship to your home! Designed for neurodivergent youth, these virtual sessions use platforms like Minecraft and Board Game Arena to encourage connection, creativity, and collaborative play. Whether building a world together or mastering strategy games, participants practice valuable social skills while having a blast. 

Our Minecraft Eports team will not only practice competitive games with each other weekly (such as build battles, capture the wool, and bed wars), but will also work as a team to compete against other teens/tweens their age.

Our online groups are:

• Built for connection: Our games aren’t just fun—they’re intentionally chosen to spark conversation, teamwork, and laughter.
   
• Hosted live with real people: A trained adult facilitator leads every session in real time. No pre-recorded videos or passive screen time here!
   
• Neurodiversity-affirming: We welcome all kinds of communicators and thinkers, creating space for each participant to show up as themselves.
   
• Accessible from anywhere: Whether you're in a rural area or just prefer staying home, online groups make it easy to join the fun.

• Opening -  Participants log in and ease into the session with casual conversation and friendly check-ins as everyone arrives. It’s a relaxed time to reconnect, share updates, and get ready to play. 
• Learning & Set Up-  Each week introduces new games, activities, or collaborative challenges. Whether learning a tabletop strategy game or planning a Minecraft build, participants are guided through the rules or goals by a supportive adult facilitator. Both competitive and cooperative formats are explored. 
• Game Play-  The group jumps into play—teaming up, making decisions, solving problems, and having fun together. An adult leader is always present to clarify rules, encourage positive interactions, and keep the group flowing smoothly. 
• Closing -  At the end of each session, participants share what they enjoyed (or didn’t!) about the day’s games or activities. This feedback helps guide future sessions. If time allows, the group may continue chatting, share game tips, or even trade screen names for safe, age-appropriate games outside of group time. 

Families never need to purchase separate apps or software to participate in our online groups.

• Board Game Arena: Participants create a free account. Game On Youth handles all game hosting—no subscriptions or purchases required.
   
• Minecraft Java: We provide each participant with a license to Minecraft Java, free of charge for as long as the participant is enrolled in the group. Participants are allowed to use their own if they have Java already. Sessions will take place on a Game On Youth-hosted Realm which ensures only Game On Youth participants are on together.
   

When given log in info, participants can download Minecraft: Java and use a Game On Youth–issued account, which allows them to:

• Play during sessions and to continue play outside of sessions with peers
   
• Connect with other enrolled group members between meetings
   
• Stay in a safe, closed environment limited to our community only
   

This not only saves families money but also ensures a more secure and intentional online experience—something that sets Game On Youth apart from other programs that require families to buy their own copies of Minecraft or use open servers.

Our online groups are led by Brandi Kranich, the founder of Game On Youth. Brandi has completed formal training in Utilizing Esports in Education through the Washington Education Association. This specialized training ensures that our Minecraft Esports Team specifially is not just fun—but also rooted in best practices for teamwork, strategy, digital citizenship, and inclusive play. Participants gain a meaningful, growth-focused experience in every session.

You can read more about her on the About Us page.

Game On Youth online groups meet once a week for 1-1.5 hours each meeting. 

We run groups in 2 month cycles which allows for flexibility for families who may want to temporarily stop attending for school sports and activities then resume at a later date.

Our class fees vary depending on the group format, meeting length, and the number of participants we can accommodate. For example, our Tabletop Gaming Groups can welcome more participants than our Role-Playing Game (D&D) Groups, which are designed for smaller, more immersive game play.

All fees are billed on a 1-month cycle to simplify scheduling and planning and to facilitate consistency on a monthly basis. To see current class offerings and exact pricing for each group, please refer to the registration lists below.

We believe every child should have access to our programs, regardless of financial circumstances. Hardship discounts are available for a variety of reasons, and we welcome all families with any level of need to apply. After selecting a group and completing the registration forms, you can click the link provided in the "Hardship agreement" policy to request a fee reduction to be applied prior to making your payment.