Let The Games Begin! Executive Functioning and Board/Card Games

Aarone Cefalo, OTD, OTR/L

Executive functioning is vital to success in school and life. Executive function skills are an area that I often see kids demonstrate difficulty with as a pediatric occupational therapist. These important skills include: planning, organization, attention, and self-control, working memory, attention, problem-solving, and more. While traditional therapy techniques are valuable, I've found that utilizing board and card games into therapy sessions can be a fun and engaging way to help kids develop these crucial skills.

Here are some ways that board and card games can support executive function:

● Planning & Problem-Solving:

○ Many games require players to plan their moves ahead.

○ Games with multiple pathways or branching decisions encourage strategic thinking and problem-solving.

○ Examples: Chess, checkers, Blokus, Catan

● Working Memory:

○ Remembering rules, the current state of the game, and opponents' moves all rely on working memory.

○ Games with intricate rules or complex scoring systems provide excellent working memory challenges.

○ Examples: Memory, Uno, Scrabble, Sushi Go!

● Inhibition & Self-Control:

○ Taking turns, following rules, and resisting the urge to interrupt or cheat all require self-control.

○ Games with dice rolls or card draws introduce an element of chance, helping kids learn to cope with frustration and disappointment.

○ Examples: Monopoly, Sorry!, Candy Land

● Attention & Focus:

○ Maintaining focus on the game, following the conversation, and remembering the rules all require sustained attention. ○ Games with fast-paced action or multiple players can help improve attention span.

○ Examples: Twister, Jenga, Pictionary

● Flexibility & Adaptability:

○ Games with changing rules, unexpected twists, or the need to adjust strategies based on opponents' moves promote flexibility and adaptability.

○ Examples: Cards Against Humanity, Dixit, The Resistance

Tips for Choosing and Playing Games:

● Start simple: Begin with games that have easy-to-understand rules and gradually increase complexity as your child learns new skills.

● Focus on fun: Choose games that your child enjoys. If they're not having fun, they won't be engaged and won't learn skills being challenged.

● Modify the rules: Adapt the rules of existing games to make them more or less challenging or to target specific skills.

● Talk about the game: Encourage your child to verbalize their thoughts, strategies, and feelings during gameplay.

● Play regularly: Consistently playing games is key to improving executive function skills.

Board and card games aren't just for therapy sessions, they can also be a fantastic addition to family game nights. By incorporating these games into daily routines, you can provide your child with ongoing opportunities to practice and strengthen their executive function skills in a fun and engaging way.

Here are some other resources of games and the specific skills they work on to improve your child’s executive functioning skills. https://www.understood.org/en/articles/8-fun-games-that-can-improve-your-chi lds-executive-functioning-skills https://www.foothillsacademy.org/community/articles/play-up-your-childs-ef#:~: text=Rummy%20%E2%80%93%20used%20with%20children%208,children% 208%20years%20and%20up. https://lifeskillsadvocate.com/blog/25-board-games-that-promote-executive-fu nctioning-skills/ https://craniumkidsmedia.com/10-games-for-boosting-executive-functioning