Game Recommendations for Kids with ADHD/Executive Function Weakness
Executive function is a set of mental skills. It includes working memory, organization, planning, flexible thinking, and self-control. We use these skills every day to learn, work, and manage daily life. Executive function weakness in kids can make it hard for them to focus, follow directions, handle emotions, manage papers and other materials, and more. As the executive function coach for JES, I work with students in local schools to teach them strategies to assist them with their executive functioning so they can remember to bring homework to and from school, hold onto their papers, and hand in assignments on time. I work with teachers and parents to encourage kids to create new habits so the frontal lobe, where executive functioning takes place, doesn’t need to work so hard.
Parents often ask how they can help their child develop better executive function skills. Games can be a great way to teach and reinforce these skills. Below is a list of game ideas grouped by skill (some games overlap a few skills). Be sure to teach your child how to play the game and play with him/her to encourage problem solving, emotional regulation, and good sportsmanship in addition to these executive function skills. Most importantly, have fun!
ATTENTION
Blurt (Educational Insights)
Find it (Find it Games)
Mastermind (Pressman Toys)
Rat- a-Tat-Cat (Gamewright)
Memory Yoga (Upside Down Games)
Story Cubes (Gamewright)
Perpetual Commotion (Goldbrick Games)
SELF-CONTROL
Bubble Talk (Techno Source)
Jenga Max (Parker Brothers)
Taboo (Hasbro)
Topple (Pressman Toy)
Catch and Release Your Anger (Franklin Learning Systems)
The Feelings Playing Cards (Time Promotions)
Simon Says
Red Light Green Light
WORKING MEMORY
Bop It (Hasbro)
Sudoku
Distraction (ThinkFun)
Guess Who (Hasbro)
Memory matching games
PLANNING
Quirkle (Mindware)
Checkers
Chess/No Stress Chess (Winning Moves)
Connect four (Hasbro)
Rush Hour (ThinkFun)
Labyrinth (Ravensburger)
Animalogic (Fat Brain Toys)