Games for the Parent’s Toy Box

Cognitive Skills Can Change!

Kids and adults can get smarter through simple interventions such as brain training. Parents can play games that challenge their thinking processes both online and family game style! The key to everything is intensity and moderation. Think of exercise for the body. A benefit can be had from a friendly game of volleyball or soccer in the front yard or a daily swim in the pool. However a greater benefit is had if the exercise is intentional and regular.

This doesn’t mean that you have to play the same games over and over-quite the opposite! We can challenge our brains by upping the ante each time the game is played. Using a timer or counting or changing to different games with the same skill set in mind are a great way to do so. For example, we can play a great game of tic­ tac-toe. It can be challenging by just a little tweak. You could count to five while making the play on your turn and have to play within that count of five. Make a simple change to the rules by playing it with numbers or letters instead of Xs and Os.

Benefits and Tweaks to Games for True Brain Growth

Let’s explore how to make the games a little more exciting and challenging for true brain growth in a few of the “regular” games we have around the house. We can up the ante in any type of card game by adding a counting or timing element to the game. This is especially helpful in leveling the playing field if one person is more skilled than the others playing. By adding a timing factor to your games, the intensity is raised to challenge even the best player.

Uno

Uno is a great game of numbers and can be made much more beneficial to the brain by simply adding counting or speed to it. This game works short term memory, processing speed, and number/letter recognition. You’re also having fun while working a myriad of other skills such as attention and focus. If an adult who is quite skilled is playing with a child, the adult could have to make a decision by counting aloud to 3 and playing. The child gets to count to 10 while playing. This evens the playing field and makes it a mental challenge for both players as well as a fun laugh when someone loses a turn for not playing quick enough!

Checkers

Another fun game of strategy is checkers. I love getting those big mats with the enormous checkers out to play with all the nieces and nephews! Change the game by using the same timing activity mentioned above or making a rhyme ongoing. First player must say a food, then the next player must list another food of the same group, color, or rhyme a word with it.

Snap, Snap, Clap, Clap

Most everyone can remember the old Rhythm game-snap, snap, clap, clap, rhythm; name some kinds of ice cream…. Well, this game is a classic oldie but a goodie! This game has turned into a new game of categorizing like Scattergories and five second rule. These games are great for boosting that long term memory recall. One can always play the easy homemade game of alphabet in the car on long trips or at family game time. Name animals that start with letters of the alphabet-A: Anteater, B: Bear, etc. Recalling what all the previous persons listed on every fifth letter adds to the challenge.

The main point is that game time with the family creates memories. We build better relationship with fun conversation and social engagement. Our brain is growing at the same time. Games are always great gifts to purchase and last long beyond the moment! Classic games can be bought, made, enhanced, or embellished very simply. Get your game on and plan a fun family time!

Cognitive Games

Board Games: 5 Second Rule, Chess/Checkers, SET, and Scattergories, Connect 4, ThinkFun, Rush Hour

Card Games: Uno, Punderdome, Blokus, Taboo, Spot It, Farkle, Catchphrase, Scrimish, KerPlunk, Phase 10, Rummikub, Sequence, Masterpiece Tetris

Video Games: Minecraft, Tetris, StarCraft, Flight Simulator, Farm Simulator, and Sim City.

Smart Apps: Rhyme Zone, Chain of Thought, Bejeweled, Proverbidioms,

Car Games: Alphabet game, Uno, Spot, Catchphrase electronic, IQFit, Total Brain workout book, Simon electronic

Homemade Games: memory, the pattern game, opposite day, tell a creative story in just 7 words, I spy, counting backwards, spelling words backwards, recreating a room visually

For more information on how games benefit children, go to Raise Smart Kids or Learning Works for Kids. You can also get our downloadable game pack.

For more information about cognitive brain training: contact LearningRx Shreveport­ Bossier by calling 318.797.8523 or emailing shreveport.la@learningrx.net. You can also learn more on our main website at Get Started.

Previously published in LOLA magazine and The Collective  by Donesa Walker. I have  made some changes to make the article more blog friendly.