Family Game List

At a workshop I attended several years ago, a list of games that develop executive functioning abilities was provided. I've included (and thankfully received for our classroom) several of these games on our wish list in the past. I thought you might be interested in the list  - the games that I'm familiar with have been good.

Games for Executive Function

Apples to Apples by Mattel

Develops verbal organization and semantic feature analysis.

Blokus by Mattel

Develops visual-spatial, working memory and problem-solving skills.

Connect Four by Hasbro

Ages 6 and up. Classic game that develops visualization, planning and strategy.

Cover Your Tracks by ThinkFun

Ages 8 and up. Develops spatial reasoning and logic

Distraction by Think Fun

Ages 8 and up. Card game that strengths working memory.

Hot Spot by ThinkFun

Ages 8 and above. Develops strategy and problem-solving. Help a red robot over obstacles to reach a spot.

Imaginiff by Mattel.

Ages 12 and up. Teaches social perspective-taking. Good for bonding and teaching friendship.

Jenga by Hasbro and others

Ages 8 and up. Develops emotional and impulse control.

Laser Maze by Think Fun.

Ages 8-adult. Uses a real laser to develop visual planning and strategy.

Quirkle by Mindware

Ages 6 and up. For younger children serves as a color and shape matching game, for older children develops strategizing.

Rat a Tat Cat by Gamewright.

Ages 6-12. Develops strategy, awareness and memory.

Remote Control Impulse Control by Franklin Learning Systems

Ages 6 and up. Develops impulse control and cooperation using a remote control.

River Crossing by ThinkFun

Ages 8 and above. Help a hiker cross a river using planks.

Practice with reasoning, creative thinking and planning.

Rory’s Story Cubes by Gamewright

Teaches literacy skills and problem-solving.

Rush Hour by ThinkFun

Sliding block puzzle that teaches strategy and planning.

Spot It

Ages 7-11. Develops visual processing speed.

Tipover by ThinkFun

Ages 8 and up. Strategy and visual planning. Similar to Rush Hour, but three dimensional. Players create a path to the red crate by tipping over the blue, yellow and green creates without jumping over crates.

TriBond Junior by Mattel

7 to 12 years. Verbal reasoning and problem-solving.