Games can be a fun and effective way to help develop executive function skills in children. Many games require planning, organization, and the ability to adjust strategies as needed, which are all important executive function skills. Games also help children develop working memory, attention, and self-regulation, as they need to remember the rules, pay attention to their opponents, and manage their emotions. Additionally, playing games in a social setting can help children develop social skills, such as turn-taking, collaboration, and communication, which are also important for success in school and life. Overall, playing games can provide a fun and engaging way for children to practice and improve their executive function skills, while also promoting social and emotional development.
- License Plate Game: Have the kids look for license plates from different states or provinces. The first one to find a plate from every state or province wins.
- Alphabet Game: This is a classic game where players take turns finding letters of the alphabet on signs or license plates in alphabetical order.
- 20 Questions: One player thinks of a person, place, or thing, and the others ask yes-or-no questions to try to guess what it is. The player who guesses correctly gets to pick the next person, place, or thing.
- Name That Tune: Hum a few bars of a song and have the other players guess the title and artist. You can also play this game with the radio.
- Travel Bingo: Print out bingo cards with pictures of things you might see on a road trip (e.g. cows, gas station, red car, etc.). The first player to spot everything on their card wins.
If you would like more ideas, visit our Parent Resources.
