Games that Benefit the Brain
Posted by Erica Warren on
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!
There are three types of benefits:
Here is a table that reviews some of my favorite games, lists of the cognitive gains, and offers links to the products.
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.
- 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, there are games that 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.
Here is a table that reviews some of my favorite games, lists of the cognitive gains, and offers links to the products.
GAME: Time to Play
|
COGNITIVE BENEFITS
|
WHERE TO PURCHASE
|
Spot it: about 2-4 minutes
|
|
|
Executive Functioning Games: about 5-10 minutes
|
|
|
Blink: about 2-4 minutes
|
|
|
Set: about 5-10 minutes
|
|
|
Reading Games Bundle Digital Download: depends on the game 5-30 minutes
|
|
|
Q Bits: depends on the number of rounds played - 2-30 minutes
|
|
|
Master Mind: depends on the number of rounds played - 10-30 minutes
|
|
|
Hey What’s the Big Idea: About 3-15 minutes
|
|
|
Doodle Dice: about 15 minutes
|
|
|
Blokus: about 30-45 minutes
|
|
|
Word Shuffle: about 15 minutes
|
|
|
Logic Links: depends on the number of rounds played - 3-30 minutes
|
|
|
Word Around Game: depends on the number of rounds played - 5-30 minutes
|
|
|
Scattergories the Card Game:
depends on the number of rounds played - 5-30 minutes
|
|
|
Scattergories the Board Game: depends on the number of rounds played - 5-30 minutes
|
|
|
Pictionary: depends on the number of rounds played- 5-60 minutes
|
|
|
Apples to Apples: depends on the number of rounds played- 10-30 minutes
|
|
|
Cranium: depends on the number of rounds played - 5-30 minutes.
|
|
|
Jenga - depends on the number of rounds played- 5-30 minutes.
|
|
|
Cheers, Dr. Erica Warren
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.
· Blog: https://learningspecialistmaterials.blogspot.com/
· YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/user/warrenerica1
· Podcast: https://godyslexia.com/
· Store: http://www.Goodsensorylearning.com/
· Courses: http://www.learningspecialistcourses.com/
· Newsletter Sign-up: https://app.convertkit.com/landing_pages/69400