Games that Benefit the Brain

Most kids love to play card and board games, but did you know that many offer benefits far beyond the obvious social gains? Many games are actually good for cognition and can exercise the brain in areas like visual processing, processing speed, executive functioning, attention, and more!

Collection of educational board games that boost brain development and cognitive skills in kids, featured by Good Sensory Learning

There are three types of benefits:

Brain Breaks: Some games offer quick “brain breaks” that can be used during homework completion. A quick reward, when stamina is low, can energize the brain and regain focus.
Brain Integration: Other games can help integrate the brain. Some students can lack integration between the two hemispheres of the brain, and these activities activate the whole brain.
Cognitive Remediation: Finally, some games help to strengthen specific areas of cognition, and they can serve as a form of cognitive therapy. By exercising these parts of the brain, new neural pathways can develop, and areas of weakness can be strengthened and even remediated.

Students playing learning games featured in the executive functioning games book

I have also written two other blogs that review more games that benefit the brain, as well as games that benefit visual processing.

This table reviews some of my favorite games, lists the cognitive gains, and offers links.

GAME: Time to Play	COGNITIVE BENEFITS	WHERE TO PURCHASE
Spot it: about 2-4 minutes	Visual Processing Processing Speed Attention to Detail Attention Hemisphere Integration	https://amzn.to/4plJfOL
Executive Functioning Games: about 5-10 minutes	Visual Processing Working Memory Processing Speed Attention to Detail Attention Hemisphere Integration Mental Flexibility Nonverbal Reasoning	https://goodsensorylearning.com/products/executive-functioning-games-bundle
Blink: about 2-4 minutes	Visual Processing Processing Speed Attention to Detail Attention Mental Flexibility Nonverbal Reasoning	http://amzn.to/2xYPqBx
Set: about 5-10 minutes	Visual Processing Speed of Processing Attention to Detail Attention Mental Flexibility Executive Functioning Nonverbal Reasoning	http://amzn.to/2xZ0hM5
Reading Games Bundle Digital Download: depends on the game 5-30 minutes	Core reading skills Orton Gillingham Based or phonics based approach	https://goo.gl/8R3Fyk
Q Bits: depends on the number of rounds played - 2-30 minutes	Visual Processing Spatial Relations Speed of Processing Attention to Detail Mental Flexibility Executive Functioning Nonverbal Reasoning	h ttp://amzn.to/2yYkwHR
Master Mind: depends on the number of rounds played - 10-30 minutes	Visual Processing Visual Reasoning Nonverbal Reasoning Attention to Detail Attention Mental Flexibility Executive Functioning	http://amzn.to/2gbnPUF
Hey What’s the Big Idea: About 3-15 minutes	Processing Speed Simultaneous Processing Word Finding RAN Rapid Automatic Naming Attention Mental Flexibility Executive Functioning	https://goo.gl/RyHjXj
Jenga - depends on the number of rounds played- 5-30 minutes.	Fine Motor Dexterity Motor Planning Nonverbal Reasoning	http://amzn.to/2xYTLVg
Blokus: about 30-45 minutes	Visual Processing Nonverbal Reasoning Attention to Detail Spatial Relations Attention Mental Flexibility Executive Functioning	http://amzn.to/2yow4Y7
Word Shuffle: about 15 minutes	Processing Speed Word Finding RAN Rapid Automatic Naming Attention Mental Flexibility Executive Functioning Linguistic Skills	https://goo.gl/NHEzS5
Logic Links: depends on the number of rounds played - 3-30 minutes	Visual Processing Nonverbal Reasoning Attention to Detail Attention Mental Flexibility Executive Functioning	http://amzn.to/2xYRpWE
Word Around Game: depends on the number of rounds played - 5-30 minutes	Visual Processing Verbal Reasoning Sequential Processing Attention Mental Flexibility Executive Functioning	h ttp://amzn.to/2yYB3fe
Scattergories the Card Game: depends on the number of rounds played - 5-30 minutes	Simultaneous Processing Word Finding Speed of Processing Attention Mental Flexibility Executive Functioning	http://amzn.to/2xh1f7D
Scattergories the Board Game: depends on the number of rounds played - 5-30 minutes	Simultaneous Processing Word Finding Speed of Processing Attention Mental Flexibility Executive Functioning	http://amzn.to/2youWnf
Pictionary: depends on the number of rounds played- 5-60 minutes	Nonverbal Reasoning Verbal Reasoning Fine Motor Dexterity Speed of Processing	http://amzn.to/2fQfF75
Apples to Apples: depends on the number of rounds played- 10-30 minutes	Verbal Reasoning Attention Mental Flexibility	http://amzn.to/2xYRf1l
Cranium: depends on the number of rounds played - 5-30 minutes.	Auditory Processing Visual Processing Processing Speed Attention to Detail Attention Hemisphere Integration Fine Motor Verbal Reasoning Sequential Processing	http://amzn.to/2gbrba6

I hope you found this helpful. If you know of other card or board games that you find beneficial, please share them in the comment box below. I will then update this blog to reflect your ideas.

Cheers, Erica

Dr. Erica Warren is the author, illustrator, and publisher of multisensory educational materials at Good Sensory Learning. She is also the director of Learning to Learn and Learning Specialist Courses.