How one woman’s creativity brought hope—and still inspires today
This week, we’re taking a more playful turn with our newsletter. Sometimes inspiration comes from unexpected places—and for us, the history of a classic board game brought a smile and a spark of hope. We hope you’ll enjoy this sweet story as much as we did, and that it leaves you feeling as inspired as we were when we first learned it.
In the 1940s, schoolteacher Eleanor Abbott was recovering from polio in a children’s hospital ward. Surrounded by young patients confined to their beds, she saw how bored, anxious, and isolated they felt.
So, she imagined a way to give them a mental escape: a colorful board game where every turn brought a new adventure. No complicated rules, no physical demands—just simple steps along a candy-filled path toward King Kandy’s castle.
That game became Candy Land, published in 1949. For children living through the polio epidemic, it was more than entertainment—it was a journey into joy, a reminder that even when the body feels stuck, the mind can still travel.
Today, the same spirit behind Candy Land can empower neurodiverse learners. Many children with ADHD, dyslexia, autism, or other learning differences thrive when they can explore ideas in playful, low-pressure environments. Just as Eleanor gave hospitalized kids a safe space to succeed and feel in control, we can offer learners imaginative, strength-based paths that meet them where they are.
At Minnesota Neuropsychology, we’re dedicated to empowering neurodiverse learners. Every day, our team works to create a safe and welcoming space where clients can feel comfortable and supported throughout the evaluation process. Because when children feel seen, understood, and encouraged—they’re free to imagine their own colorful path forward.
To bring that spirit into our own work, we’ve even created a hand-drawn mini version of Candy Land for our youngest clients during their testing process. We know how much hard work and concentration testing can take, so we give kids extra encouragement along the way. Our mini game lives on a piece of paper, where kids place stickers on the road as they work through their testing journey. At the end, they get to take it home—a keepsake of their effort, perseverance, and something to proudly show off.
