Eight-year-old Mia Takos has been named the world’s youngest board game creator after designing a game to help her father manage his ADHD.
The student at Geelong‘s Christian College, invented Outfox at just six years old in the garage of her family’s Highton home.
The game was officially launched on Sunday, March 2, during the Melbourne Toy Fair at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre.
Mia created Outfox to assist her father, Chris, in developing the concentration skills he struggled with due to his ADHD.
“I thought noughts and crosses was really boring,” Mia said.
“So I thought, ‘why don’t I make something more challenging?’”
Mia shared her excitement and nervousness prior to the launch, saying, “Getting the title of world’s youngest board game creator is great, but I think I’m more excited for meeting new people – Hasbro, Disney, and all the kids there.”
Outfox is designed for all ages and requires players to concentrate as they strategise. The game features transparent characters, and players can’t move the same way twice.
Experts have praised the game’s cognitive benefits, including its ability to improve memory, critical thinking, and problem-solving for nursing home residents.
Chris Takos said he has personally benefited from the game.
“My mind races 100 miles an hour, but this makes you have to concentrate,” he explained.
“It’s a simple game but you have to focus or you’ll lose. And she’s already invented the next one.”
Mia’s proud mother, Kristina Bond, recalled how Mia first introduced the game to her parents.
“She sat down with her dad and finally explained it to him,” she said.
“After that, we started playing the game with her, and we really loved playing the game.”
Outfox is a strategic game that challenges players to out-think and out-concentrate their opponents, combining concentration skills, tactical decision-making and fun.
Source: Herald Sun.
