Adail do Couto Diniz (photo) is a music teacher in the Brazilian city of Franca, in the state of São Paulo. He has a degree in History and Education and is an active member of the local Spiritist Movement, with strong links to the Vicente de Paula Spiritist Temple. He has become well known for producing board games that help teaching Spiritism to children and teenagers, as he explains in the following interview:

How did you come up with the idea to create and produce these board games?

The inspiration came through my mediumship in the 1990s. I first prepared a draft of a circuit on a paper board representing the material world and the spirit world. The idea was to show that the good values and good deeds of an incarnated person on Earth would eventually grant him or her a better situation in the spiritual world. The final prize of the game is to reincarnate in a better world, a World of Regeneration. That is a summary of the Evolution Game, which was the first one I prepared for Spiritists. 

What is the educational criteria behind this game?

For the games to be successful and well received, they require a professional and attractive design. And it’s not only about aesthetics. The game’s artwork needs to reflect how serious and deep its content is. The average duration of each game must also be under one hour, as that is how long Spiritist classes normally last. The language used can’t be too orthodox. We don’t deviate much from the core principles and values of Spiritism, but we use other resources and tools to help players fully understand Spiritist ideas. It’s also important to control the level of competitiveness, as the games must always prioritise the educational aspect.

How do you conciliate the educational aspect of the game, from a traditional perspective, and the goal of teaching Spiritism?

Every game needs both an educational and a recreational aspect. The combination of these factors will determine whether a game is nice and pleasurable or not. So I make a concerted effort to combine them. I keep frequent contact with our team of Spiritist evangelisers here in Franca. They are my main source when it comes to choosing the issues and subjects we need to include in the games, as they are in permanent contact with children and teenagers. 

Have you created different games for different age groups? 

Yes, we have different games for different age groups, ranging between 5 and 100 years old. It’s interesting, also, that some of the games are ecumenical and can be used by people of different Christian affiliations. I gave one of the games to one of my neighbours, who’s a Foursquare Church pastor. The game focuses on the parables of Jesus and he adopted it in his church with great success. Also, games designed for children between 5 and 7 very often attract teenagers and adults because of the playful way in which they lay out the principles of Spiritism. 

Is there a virtual platform that people can access if they are interested in the game?

The games can be visualised and bought on several digital platforms, such as Mercado Livre and Elo7. The WhatsApp number to dial if you’re interested is +55 16 99292 7208. You can also do a search on Instagram, Facebook and Youtube, looking for adailjogopedagogico. And I have my own website, which you can access by clicking here: jogo pedagógico.

How have these games been received over the years?

This year, 2023, marks the 17th anniversary of the beginning of the production and commercialisation of these games. The feedback I have is 100% positive, and the main reason is the quality of the design and the production, as well as the recreational factor of the games, which are popular with children and teenagers. Those who buy the games often come back to me to thank me and to say that they are entirely satisfied. But the games have a side-effect: the kids in religion classes get used to it and insist on playing every single week…

Is there anything else you would like to add?

Many people have asked me to do a digital version of these games. I have resisted so far, because the main goal here is to gather people around a table to play, to chat and to discuss issues concerning Spiritism, as well as relations between family members and friends. I think the digital world is already very well served and I prefer to encourage face-to-face interactions, as families these days seem to lack it. 

Interviewer’s note: