As someone who works closely with children, I understand the difficulties in finding activities that can genuinely engage kids with ADHD. It’s essential to not only entertain them but also help in their developmental journey. I’ve curated a list of games and activities that have been beneficial in my experience, aiding in both skill-building and maintaining focus. You can easily incorporate these into your child’s daily routine.
Table of Contents
1. Rubik’s Cube: A Classic Challenge for Active Minds
I always recommend the Rubik’s Cube as one of the best games for ADHD. This colorful 3D puzzle is more than just a toy – it’s a brain gym in a box. The cube engages multiple cognitive skills simultaneously, which is perfect for kids who thrive on mental stimulation.
What makes the Rubik’s Cube so effective? It requires focus, spatial awareness, and problem-solving skills – all areas where kids with ADHD often excel. The tactile nature of the cube also provides a great outlet for fidgeting hands, channeling that energy into a productive activity. Plus, the sense of accomplishment when solving even one side can be a huge confidence booster.
2. Jenga: Building Concentration One Block at a Time
Jenga is another game I frequently suggest for children with ADHD. This tower-building game demands careful attention and steady hands – skills that can be challenging but incredibly rewarding to develop. As players take turns removing blocks and placing them on top, they’re practicing impulse control and fine motor skills.
What I love about Jenga is how it naturally encourages turn-taking and patience. These are crucial social skills that many kids with ADHD find difficult. The game’s inherent suspense – will the tower fall? – keeps players engaged and focused throughout. It’s a fantastic way to work on attention span in a low-pressure, high-fun environment.
Read more: How Do People With ADHD Think?
3. Simon: A Memory Game That Lights Up Learning
Simon, the electronic memory game with its four colorful light-up buttons, is a staple in my toolkit for kids with ADHD. This game is all about remembering and repeating sequences of lights and sounds, which directly targets working memory – an area where many children with ADHD could use some extra support.
The beauty of Simon lies in its simplicity and instant feedback. Kids get immediate results after each round, which can be incredibly motivating. The game also adapts to the player’s skill level, gradually increasing in difficulty. This progressive challenge helps build confidence while continually pushing cognitive boundaries. It’s a perfect blend of fun and brain-training.
4. Spot It!: Sharp Eyes and Quick Minds in Action
Spot It! is a fast-paced card game that I often recommend for kids with ADHD. The game consists of circular cards, each with eight symbols. Between any two cards, there’s always one – and only one – matching symbol. The goal is to spot that match faster than your opponents.
This game is excellent for improving visual perception and processing speed – skills that can sometimes be challenging for children with ADHD. The quick-fire nature of Spot It! keeps players on their toes, promoting sustained attention in short, manageable bursts. It’s also highly portable, making it a great option for on-the-go entertainment that doubles as cognitive exercise.
5. Rush Hour: Traffic Jam of Fun for Problem Solvers
Rush Hour is a puzzle game that I’ve found to be particularly engaging for kids with ADHD. Players must maneuver cars and trucks on a grid to clear a path for the red car to exit. It’s a solo game, which can be great for kids who need some quiet focus time.
What makes Rush Hour stand out is its combination of spatial reasoning and sequential thinking. These skills are crucial for executive function development. The game offers varying levels of difficulty, allowing kids to progress at their own pace. I’ve seen children who struggle with sustained attention become completely absorbed in solving these puzzles, often surprising themselves with their persistence.
6. Minecraft: A Digital World of Creativity and Focus
While I’m cautious about recommending screen time, Minecraft is an exception that I often make for kids with ADHD. This open-world game allows players to build, explore, and problem-solve in a virtual environment. It’s like digital LEGO with endless possibilities.
Minecraft encourages planning, organization, and creative thinking – all valuable skills for children with ADHD. The game’s structure (or lack thereof) allows kids to set their own goals and work towards them at their own pace. This autonomy can be empowering and help build self-regulation skills. However, it’s important to set time limits and monitor usage to ensure a healthy balance with other activities.
7. Blokus: A Colorful Strategy Game for Spatial Thinkers
Blokus is a board game that I often recommend for older children and teens with ADHD. Players take turns placing their colored pieces on the board, with the catch that each new piece must touch at least one other piece of the same color, but only at the corners.
This game is fantastic for developing strategic thinking and spatial awareness. It requires players to plan several moves ahead, which exercises working memory and cognitive flexibility. The visual and tactile nature of the game helps keep kids engaged, while the competitive element adds an extra layer of excitement. Blokus is also great for social interaction, teaching skills like turn-taking and good sportsmanship.
8. Tangrams: Ancient Puzzles for Modern Minds
Tangrams, the ancient Chinese puzzle game, is a wonderful tool for kids with ADHD. The game consists of seven flat shapes that can be arranged to form various figures. Players are given a silhouette and must figure out how to recreate it using all seven pieces.
What I love about Tangrams is how they combine visual-spatial skills with problem-solving. This game encourages persistence and creative thinking – essential skills for children with ADHD. It’s also a great way to practice frustration tolerance, as some puzzles can be quite challenging. The tactile nature of moving and arranging the pieces can be very soothing for kids who need sensory input.
Read more: What are Social Skills for Kids?
9. Boggle: Word Hunt for Vocabulary Ninjas
Boggle is a word game that I often suggest for kids with ADHD who have a knack for language. Players shake a grid of letter dice and then race against a timer to find as many words as they can by tracing adjacent letters.
This fast-paced game is excellent for improving focus and visual processing. It also helps expand vocabulary and reinforces spelling skills. The time limit adds an element of excitement that many kids with ADHD find engaging. Plus, the game is quick to play, making it perfect for short attention spans or as a break between other activities.
10. Dance Dance Revolution: Full-Body Focus and Fun
For kids who need to move to concentrate, Dance Dance Revolution (DDR) can be an excellent choice. This rhythm game involves stepping on arrows on a dance pad in time with music and on-screen prompts. While it might not look like a traditional “learning” game, DDR offers some unique benefits for children with ADHD.
DDR combines physical activity with cognitive challenges, which can be ideal for kids who struggle with sitting still. The game requires focus, quick reactions, and hand-eye (or in this case, foot-eye) coordination. It’s also a great way to burn off excess energy and improve overall fitness. Just be prepared for some lively living room dance parties!
| Game | Main Benefits for ADHD | Age Range |
|---|---|---|
| Rubik’s Cube | Problem-solving, spatial awareness, focus | 7+ |
| Jenga | Fine motor skills, impulse control, patience | 6+ |
| Simon | Working memory, pattern recognition | 7+ |
| Spot It! | Visual perception, processing speed | 6+ |
| Rush Hour | Problem-solving, spatial reasoning | 8+ |
| Minecraft | Creativity, planning, goal-setting | 7+ |
| Blokus | Strategic thinking, spatial awareness | 7+ |
| Tangrams | Visual-spatial skills, persistence | 5+ |
| Boggle | Vocabulary, visual processing, focus | 8+ |
| Dance Dance Revolution | Physical activity, coordination, focus | 6+ |
Goally | Fun Games that Build Motor Skills & Manage Screen Time
Looking for ways to improve your child’s finger dexterity skills while also keeping screen time manageable? Try Goally’s fun & motor planning apps.
Our Balloons & Graffiti Street Apps are all about building motor skills in a fun, interactive way. Kids learn to “pop the balloons” or draw dozens of digital art designs while simultaneously developing the essential skills needed to use AAC and other communication tools. Meanwhile, Game Garage is a parent-controlled space filled with entertaining (but parent-controlled) video games that kids can unlock with the points they earn from completing routines.
By incorporating a mix of board games, physical activities, video games, and art projects, you can create an engaging and nurturing environment for your neurodivergent child. With Goally’s learning tablet and apps, you can easily manage your child’s activities, monitor their progress, and celebrate their milestones. Play is a powerful tool for learning and growth, so embrace its potential and watch your child flourish!
Resources
- CHADD – Children and Adults with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder
- ADDitude – Inside the ADHD Mind
- Understood – For Learning and Thinking Differences
FAQs about Best Games for ADHD
How can games help children with ADHD?
Games can help children with ADHD by improving focus, enhancing executive function skills, and providing a structured outlet for excess energy. The right games can also boost self-esteem and social skills while making learning feel fun and engaging.
Are video games good for kids with ADHD?
Some video games, when played in moderation, can be beneficial for kids with ADHD, particularly those that involve problem-solving, strategy, and creativity like Minecraft. However, it's crucial to set time limits and choose games carefully to ensure they're providing cognitive benefits rather than just entertainment.
What types of board games are best for children with ADHD?
Board games that involve strategy, quick thinking, and visual-spatial skills are often great for kids with ADHD. Games like Blokus, Rush Hour, and Jenga can help improve focus, impulse control, and planning skills while providing a fun, interactive experience.
How often should children with ADHD play these games?
The frequency of game play should be balanced with other activities and tailored to each child's needs and interests. I generally recommend incorporating these games into daily routines, perhaps for 20-30 minutes a day, as a fun way to work on important skills.
Can these games replace other treatments for ADHD?
While these games can be excellent tools for developing cognitive skills and managing ADHD symptoms, they should not replace professional treatment plans. They work best as a complement to other strategies, including behavioral therapy, educational support, and, in some cases, medication as prescribed by a healthcare provider.
This post was originally published on 05/22/2023. It was updated on 07/18/2024.
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