Families, educators, future teachers and school representatives came together to discover how modern board games can promote responsible digitalisation and strengthen family bonds.
On 8 October 2026, Ludus Magnus, held the Spanish Multiplier Event of PLAY2DISC – Play to Disconnect: Strengthening Families Through Non-Digital Engagement, an Erasmus+ project developed in partnership with the Parents for Children Association (APPC) from Romania. The event took place at a university auditorium in Valladolid and brought together 52 participants, including parents, students of Education and Psychology, teachers, educators and school principals. During the approximately 45-minute session, Azael Herrero, project coordinator at Ludus Magnus, presented the project’s main activities, educational resources and results, highlighting a central message: disconnecting from screens does not mean rejecting technology, but finding a healthier balance and creating more opportunities for meaningful family interaction.
From Responsible Digitalisation to Board Game-Based Learning
The presentation began with the project’s awareness campaign, designed to help families and educators understand the challenges associated with excessive screen use, particularly among children and adolescents. Participants were introduced to the Responsible Digitalisation Guide, which provides practical recommendations for promoting healthier digital habits at home. The campaign’s explanatory video was screened, and attendees were shown the additional materials freely available through the PLAY2DISC website.
The second part of the event focused on the Board Game-Based Learning Methodology Guide, developed by Ludus Magnus. This resource explains how modern board games can be used intentionally and systematically to promote communication, cooperation, emotional regulation, decision-making and intergenerational learning. The methodology video was also presented, illustrating how carefully selected games, guided facilitation and reflection after play can transform an enjoyable family activity into a meaningful educational experience.
Both guides are available free of charge through the PLAY2DISC website, making the project’s educational resources accessible to families, teachers and organisations interested in replicating the initiative.
Families Share Their Experience
One of the most valuable moments of the event came when families who had previously participated in the PLAY2DISC workshops shared their experiences with the audience. These contributions added a practical and personal perspective to the presentation, demonstrating how guided board game sessions can offer families new opportunities to communicate, cooperate and enjoy quality time together.
The workshops, organised in Valladolid with the collaboration of FECAMPA CONCAPA and Distrito Zero, have allowed families to discover modern board games adapted to their children’s ages, interests and previous gaming experience. Beyond simply learning the rules, participants have been encouraged to reflect on their experiences and consider how to introduce regular screen-free play into their everyday family routines.
A Permanent Meeting Space to Keep Families Playing
The final part of the event focused on one of the project’s most important sustainability achievements: the establishment of a permanent PLAY2DISC Meeting Space in Valladolid, in collaboration with Distrito Zero. Justi González, representing Distrito Zero, attended the event and explained that families and other interested users can visit the establishment during its regular opening hours to discover and try different modern board games. Several printed copies of the Board Game-Based Learning Methodology Guide have also been made available at the venue, providing practical guidance for anyone interested in applying the methodology independently. This collaboration ensures that the opportunities created by PLAY2DISC will not end with the project’s funding period, but can continue to benefit families and the local community.
Disconnect to Connect: A Legacy Beyond Erasmus+
The Valladolid Multiplier Event represented an important opportunity to share the results of PLAY2DISC with people who can apply them in their families, classrooms and educational communities. The project demonstrates that promoting healthier digital habits requires more than simply limiting screen time. It also means offering positive, enjoyable and accessible alternatives that encourage people to interact, learn and spend meaningful time together. Through its awareness campaign, educational guides, family workshops and permanent meeting spaces in Spain and Romania, PLAY2DISC is building a practical and transferable model for strengthening family relationships through non-digital engagement. We would like to thank all 52 participants for their interest, the families who shared their experiences, and Distrito Zero for its commitment to ensuring the long-term sustainability of the initiative.
Because sometimes, the best way to reconnect is simply to sit around a table and play together.
PLAY2DISC – Play to Disconnect: Strengthening Families Through Non-Digital Engagement (2025-1-RO01-KA210-ADU-000356923) is co-funded by the Erasmus+ Programme of the European Union.
Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the granting authority. Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.
