Improve Executive Function Through Games

Games are a natural way to help children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADD/ADHD) develop executive function -- the brain-based skills we need to plan and direct activities and regulate behavior. For example: Checkers, chess, Monopoly, and Clue require planning, sustained attention, response inhibition, working memory, and metacognition.

Legend of Zelda, SimCity and its variations, Command & Conquer, and other problem-solving video games call for sustained attention, response inhibition, planning, organization, metacognition, and goal-directed persistence.

Managing fantasy sports teams requires executive skills, along with task initiation and time management.