If you’re looking for engaging activities tailored to children with ADHD, you’re in the right place. Games for kids with ADHD can be especially beneficial for children with this neurodivergent condition as they combine skill development with fun. Choosing the right games can help your child hone attention, social, and cognitive abilities.
Incorporating games into your child’s routine offers a structured way for them to explore their creativity and learn new things. Playing games with ADHD kids takes a lot of patience because of the constant delays, frustration, and outbursts. It’s totally understandable why parents just plop a kid in front of a screen and get themselves some peace and quiet.
But, you can find games for kids with ADHD that can have a huge impact on different developmental stages and have positive effects on the ADHD struggle with behavior both at home and in elementary school. Too much screen time is not the long term solution any parent wants for their kids as they transition into middle school and high school.
Jump To:
- Games for ADHD Kids
- Cognitive and Social Skills of ADHD Kids
- ADHD Kids and Physical Movement
- Parental Guidance
- Emerging Childhood ADHD Management
Understanding ADHD in Children
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a neurodevelopmental condition that can notably impact your child’s daily life. With games and behavioral therapy, you have tangible tools to manage ADHD symptoms effectively.
Role of Games in ADHD Management
Games for kids with ADHD are useful for those who have a hard time with simple activities. The use of video game provides structured opportunities for children to develop social skills and emotional regulation. Structured play, for example, has benefits such as:
- Enhancing focus: Engaging in rule-based games can help children increase their attention span.
- Improving impulsivity control: Games that require taking turns can teach patience and restraint.
- Encouraging social interaction: Cooperative games allow children with ADHD to build on their communication and team skills.
A balanced mix of physical activities and cognitive games ensures a variety of sensory stimuli, crucial for an ADHD brain that craves varied stimulation.
ADHD Diagnosis and Behavioral Therapy
ADHD diagnosis is a critical stepping stone towards a targeted approach to behavioral therapy. Child psychologists play an essential role in both identifying the symptoms of ADHD and devising therapy plans. Here’s how therapy intersects with ADHD management:
- Initial Evaluation: Proper diagnosis by a healthcare professional is foundational to address the unique challenges your child may face.
- Custom Plans: Therapists can create individualized strategies that align with the severity of ADHD symptoms, focusing on both strengths and areas of difficulty.
- Parental Guidance: As a parent of a child with ADHD, you receive support and strategies from therapists to reinforce positive behaviors at home.
Remember, consistent behavioral therapy is part of a long-term strategy that can help your child achieve better self-regulation and improved daily function. Take the therapy aspect in mind when choosing games for kids with ADHD.
Selecting Appropriate Games for ADHD
When choosing games for kids with ADHD, it’s important to pick ones that can enhance concentration, executive functioning, and offer simple rules to follow. Let’s explore options that both cater to their needs and provide fun.
Video and Computer Games
Video games when monitored by a parent can be a great way for children with ADHD, to get a lot of stimulation through fun and challenging tasks that promote cognitive skills. However, it’s crucial to monitor for any signs of video game addiction. Strategy games that require planning and problem-solving can improve executive functioning, while virtual reality games offer immersive environments that can aid focus and spatial awareness.
Stay away from video games with competitive goals or violent imagery. Depending on the type of ADHD your child has it’s possible that whatever video game they are playing will become the center of their universe. That hyper fixation on a game with positive messaging can be a great thing while a first person shooter game can create unintended consequences of bad behavior.
Here are specific recommendations:
- Strategy Games: Games like ‘Civilization’ demand strategic planning, which is beneficial for honing decision-making skills among older children.
- Hand Eye Coordination: Old school games like ‘Tetris’ or ‘Pac-Man’ can teach quick thinking and with various versions the challenges can be very mentally engaging.
- Memory Games: ‘Brain Age’ on consoles, for instance, provides puzzles that boost memory and attention among young children.
Board and Card Games
With board games and card games, you can encourage social interaction and turn-taking. Look for games with simple game mechanics and clear objectives, which are less likely to overwhelm children who may struggle with ADHD. Games with a quick playtime can be advantageous to maintain interest. Consider these options:
- Cooperative Games: ‘Gnomes at Night‘ is a game that has no winner or loser, participants work together and finish together. This is ideal game for younger children.
- Board Games: ‘Ticket to Ride‘ has straightforward rules and encourages critical thinking and strategy to help boost a child’s attention span.
- Card Games: ‘Uno‘ is an excellent example of a simple card game with easy-to-follow rules and fast-paced play, which is perfect for those with limited attention function.
Additionally, board games that call for group decision-making foster cooperative play and are an excellent option for your child to connect with others in a fun, interactive setting. They offer the opportunity to practice patience, learn from others, and develop empathy – all key components of strong social skills.
Active and Outdoor Games
Active games for kids with ADHD account for the physical energy children may have and are a good idea to help them channel their hyperactivity. Outdoor activities that require movement and coordination, like relay races or tag, can improve physical skills while also providing enjoyment. When considering physical limitations or space restrictions, indoor active games that simulate outdoor play can also be a good option. Here are a few games for kids with ADHD suggestions that stimulates their motor skills:
- Sports: Individual activities such as swimming or track and field can help improve concentration through focused goals.
- Indoor Movement Games: ‘Twister‘ is a playful option to promote coordination and balance while keeping rules straightforward.
Enhancing Cognitive and Social Skills
Encouraging play with games that enhance cognitive and social skills can be a transformative experience for kids with ADHD. Skill-focused games offer both a fun way to learn and an avenue for meaningful social interaction.
Games That Promote Learning
You’ll find that games for kids with ADHD requiring strategic planning and problem-solving can notably improve your their cognitive skills. Memory games, for example, bolster working memory and attention – a significant win for kids with a short attention span. Likewise, puzzle games, including crossword puzzles, engage a child’s brain in critical thinking and pattern recognition.
Strategy Games:
- Chess: Promotes foresight and critical thinking. This is one of the best games who need to sharpen their problem-solving skills.
- Sudoku: Improves logic and concentration. It is a one of the fun activities among ADHD children struggling in concentrating on specific tasks.
Furthermore, certain computer-based cognitive trainers use rhythmic activities to align with brain training, enhancing not just cognitive skills but also motor skills and hand-eye coordination.
Games for Social Interaction
Meanwhile, games incorporating social interaction can do wonders for a child’s social skills and behavioral problems. Team sports, for instance, offer a structured environment where kids learn to cooperate, take turns, and share victories or losses with their peers.
Team Sports:
- Baseball: Combining collective goals with having their own physical space can be a great bridge into team sports for a child with ADHD.
- Soccer: Encourages teamwork and spatial awareness among older kids who struggle with emotional reaction among their peers. Plus, the added bonus is having a large group of players means more opportunities to make a friendship connection.
- Basketball: Develops coordination and team strategy. This is also a great game that offers instant gratification for those lacking in a sense of accomplishment.
Incorporating Physical Movement
When you’re looking to help children with ADHD channel their excess energy in a positive way, introducing them to structured physical activities is key. These activities not only burn off extra energy but also improve focus and promote a sense of achievement.
Martial Arts and Sports
Martial arts are a great activity for kids with ADHD because they blend physical movement with discipline and focus. Taekwondo, Karate, and other martial arts teach movements that require concentration and can help with self-regulation. Sports like rock climbing or skiing exert a lot of physical energy and starting as a kid gives so much time to become an expert in a life long hobby.
Interactive and Fun Physical Challenges
Building an obstacle course in the backyard can be a fun game and a fantastic way to keep your kids engaged. Creating a circuit of various activities, such as crawling through tunnels, jumping over hurdles, or weaving between cones, benefits coordination and keeps the brain active.
For something less structured, a treasure hunt can be thrilling. It encourages kids to move around in search of clues, thereby investing their energy into an exciting adventure. It’s a physical activity that can be enjoyed individually or in teams, fostering both independence and cooperative play.
Parental Guidance and Limitations
Finding the right balance between fun and regulation is key when it comes to managing game time for your child with ADHD. Let’s look at how you can set boundaries and ensure that the time spent on games is both beneficial and controlled.
Setting Boundaries and Time Limits
Parents of children with ADHD should consider setting time limits for game use to mitigate potential negative effects. Establishing a clear schedule when doing games for kids with ADHD can prevent excessive playing and ensure there’s time for other important activities. You can:
- Use a to-do app to create a daily checklist including game time, homework, and household chores.
- Set time limits within the game settings or through parental control apps available on the App Store or Google Play.
- Integrate the use of a mobile device with a rewarding system—games as a reward for completing tasks or good behavior.
Engaging in Quality Time
Spending quality time with your child is a great tool to strengthen your bond and encourage positive behavior. During this time, you can:
- Choose activities based on your child’s interests, making time spent together more engaging and meaningful.
- Balance game time with other activities that encourage social skills, mental stimulation, and burning off physical energy.
- Use games as an opportunity to connect—consider playing together or discussing the content of the games to understand your child’s world better.
Emerging Technologies and Therapeutic Games
As therapeutic approaches for ADHD evolve, game-based technologies are playing an increasingly pivotal role. Emerging tools leverage the fun and engagement of games to support therapeutic goals.
Digital Therapeutic Advancements
Recent strides in digital therapeutics offer you innovative options beyond traditional medication and therapy. Akili Interactive Labs, a leader in this space, made a significant leap with the development of the first prescription video game for ADHD, sanctioned by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA). This game, crafted to improve attention in children with ADHD, marks a milestone as the first of its kind available through prescription.
Virtual Reality in ADHD Therapy
Virtual reality (VR) is rapidly gaining traction in ADHD therapy. A recent study supports the inclusion of VR as a complementary treatment, showcasing its ability to provide realistic and engaging environments for children to develop their cognitive skills. With VR, you have the opportunity to experience a level of interaction that goes beyond the screen, offering a novel approach in a field keen on innovation.
