Improving Executive Function Skills in Children through Games
Executive function skills are essential mental processes that help individuals regulate, control, and manage their thoughts, actions, and emotions. These skills are crucial for success in school, work, and daily life. As a parent, you may be wondering how to enhance your child's executive function skills. The good news is that games can help children develop these critical mental processes while having fun and engaging in enjoyable activities.
To start off, we’re going to go over what executive function is and a breakdown of how games can help. If you want to skip over this, you can jump right to the list of games.
Understanding Executive Function Skills
Executive function skills refer to a set of mental processes that help individuals regulate, control, and manage their thoughts, actions, and emotions. These skills include working memory, organization/planning, focus and attention, inhibition and impulse control, and self-regulation. Each of these skills plays a critical role in the development of executive function and can be enhanced through various activities and games.
Improving Working Memory
Working memory refers to the ability to hold and manipulate information in your mind over a short period of time. Games that require matching, such as memory games or matching card games, can help improve working memory by requiring children to remember and recall information.
Developing Organization and Planning Skills
Organization/planning involves the ability to develop and implement effective strategies for completing tasks and achieving goals. Sorting and matching games, as well as strategy-based board games, can help children develop their organizational and planning skills by requiring them to categorize and group information.
Enhancing Focus and Attention
Focus and attention refer to the ability to concentrate on a specific task or activity without being distracted. Games like I Spy or playing the Rubik’s cube can help improve focus and attention by requiring children to pay attention to specific details and stay focused on a particular task.
Improving Inhibition and Impulse Control
Inhibition and impulse control refer to the ability to resist impulses and regulate behavior. Games that require turn-taking, quick response, or flexible thinking can help children develop their inhibition and impulse control by teaching them to wait their turn, control their impulses, and adjust their behavior based on changing circumstances.
Developing Self-Regulation
Self-regulation involves the ability to control one's emotions, thoughts, and behaviors in response to different situations. Games that require social interaction, such as Go Fish or Crocodile Dentist, can help children develop their self-regulation skills by teaching them to manage their emotions, regulate their behavior, and communicate effectively with others.
Games that Enhance Executive Function Skills
Now that you have a better understanding of how games can help with different executive function skills, let’s dive into some specific games that can help with different EF skills.
Disclosure: Some of the links below are affiliate links. This means that, at zero cost to you, EJ Therapy will earn an affiliate commission if you click through the link and finalize a purchase.
I Spy Eagle Eye, Jenga, and Cobra Paw can help children develop their focus and attention skills by requiring them to pay attention to specific details, stay focused on the task, and react quickly to changes in the game.
Ticket To Ride, Name 5, and Bear Down! can help children develop their organization and planning skills by requiring them to develop effective strategies for completing tasks and achieving goals.
Old Maid, Sushi Go!, and Rubik’s Battle Card Game can help children develop their working memory skills by requiring them to remember and recall information.
Slamwich, Go Fish Card Game, and SkyJo can help children develop their inhibition and impulse control skills by requiring them to wait their turn, control their impulses, and adjust their behavior based on changing circumstances.
Oreo Matching’ Middles, DiXit Odyssey, and I SPY Dig In Find-It Game can help children develop their self-regulation skills by teaching them to manage their emotions, regulate their behavior, and communicate effectively with others.
Scrabble, Othello- A minute to learn…a lifetime to master!, 5 Second Rule-Just Spit it out!, Sorry!, and Guess Who? can help children develop multiple executive function skills simultaneously, including working memory, organization and planning, focus and attention, inhibition and impulse control, and self-regulation.
Overall, games can be a fun and effective way to help children develop their executive function skills. By selecting games that target specific skills and incorporating them into a child's playtime or educational activities