Parkside Psychiatric program helps children regulate emotions through games

Posted on 10/27/25

Parkside Psychiatric Hospital is now offering a unique program to their community that combines therapy with biofeedback to help children ages 5-12 recognize and self-regulate their emotions through video games. Called Mighty Makers, the program is free to community members and is designed for children with ADHD, anxiety, aggression, low self-esteem, anger issues, emotional control issues, and more.

The program is in response to a need Parkside therapists saw for younger intervention for children who struggle to self-regulate their emotions. The program was launched in August 2024.

Mighty Makers is an eight-week program broken down into two parts, family focus and biofeedback. Families attend therapy sessions weekly where parents learn to better communicate with their children when it comes to these emotions. Parents and their children learn to name and help manage difficult emotions and situations.

Bio-feedback consists of tracking heart rate while the children play various video games. Children receive a heart monitor and a tablet that has games designed by the Harvard Medical School and Boston Children's Hospital.

Watch the video to learn more about Mighty Makers.