Executive function is a term that has been around since 1973 but is now common in the educational lexicon (and even beyond). The more we learn about it as educators and parents the more we see the benefits for all students. Knowing more about executive function and easy ways to help develop and strengthen those skills is essential. This guide is designed for both teachers and parents to help them support their students or children.
What is Executive Function?
At the simplest level, executive function is a group of skills forming the foundation to be able to function and be productive in school, work, and life. At this time, there is no single agreed-upon list of the precise aspects of executive function. In some sources certain skills are further broken into subgroups, added, or omitted. That said, there are a few skills constantly across multiple sources. In this article, I chose to focus on seven skills that different board games can support. These skills include:
- Task initiation
- Planning
- Time management
- Working memory
- Organization
- Flexible thinking
- Problem-solving.
One of the reasons executive function has become such an important concept in education is that often individuals who are neurodivergent need extra support developing executive function skills. So being able to best support their skill development is a huge focus for educators. Executive function skills are also beneficial for all children to strengthen.
Why Use Board Games?
Board Games are a great resource for supporting executive function. Games provide a way to practice skills in a more relaxed setting. Mistakes and struggles are low stakes in a game. Additionally, there is the opportunity for repeated practice, especially when the game has a short playtime. Games also allow multiple Executive Function skills to be practiced simultaneously.
Executive Function Skills and How to Support Them
Each executive function skill has its own characteristics and ways to strengthen the skills. Different features of board games can support developing those skills in a more targeted way. For each executive function skill featured below, game suggestions are provided as well as a description of what to look for in a game. The number of available board games is gargantuan and always growing. There may be a game in your collection that I have not listed but is a perfect fit for the skill you want to support and develop. Like so many things with kids, keeping them interested and engaged is the key. Finding a game that resonates with them it will help develop their skills.
Task Initiation
Task initiation is the ability to begin (initiate) a task independently. This is a foundational skill of executive function. Without having the skill of task initiation, other skills are also impacted. One way to support the development of task initiation is to begin with preferred activities (something the child enjoys doing), and over time applying this skill to non-preferred activities (activities the child does not want to do, such as chores). Board games are a great bridge because they are a preferred activity.
What to look for in a game
- Engaging themes for the players. Silly games can be a good fit for this too.
- Easy rules, making it easy to jump right in.
- Quick gameplay time, so there is not a large time commitment.
Games To Target Task Initiation:
Planning
Planning requires thinking ahead and creating a plan. When planning is a weak executive function skill, it is challenging for the child to prioritize and determining the main goal. Visuals can be supportive of planning and developing planning skills. Game boards or individual player boards can be helpful to support the child with a clear visual of what they need or their goal.
What to look for in a game
- Games that have a clear goal within the game or within the round/turn.
- The options for their turn can be seen before the player’s turn
- The decisions made on the player’s turn will impact future turns.
- The game board or individual player board provide visuals to support planning.
Games To Target Planning
Flexible Thinking (Cognitive Flexibility)
Flexible thinking is the ability to problem solving when things do not go to plan, and their plan needs to change. This can be a challenge especially for individuals with weak flexible thinking skills, when there is a plan in place and for whatever reason the plan needs to change. In board games, having your plan get derailed is low impact. In some games it can be influenced by the roll of a dice or flip of a card or the actions of another player. With games, as the players skill of flexible thinking develops, you can choose games that further challenge the flexible thinking required.
Another component of flexible thinking is being able to consider another person’s perspective. This is a very useful skill to strengthen. In some board games players have to think about what another player may need to score or meet their goal. A player may choose to play their turn differently or make choices to impede the other player.
What to look for in a game
- Games where the space on the board or cards available are changed with each player’s turn.
- Unpredictability in what choices will be available on the player’s turn, and there are changes being made with each player’s turn.
Games To Target Flexible Thinking
Problem Solving
There are opportunities for problem solving all the time in our daily lives. Yet problem solving can be a challenging skill for some children to develop. Problem solving requires the person to plan as well as initiate their plan. Therefore, it problems solving is a skill build on other executive function skills. To problem solve, you first need to figure out the problem or goal. From there, a plan needs to be formulated to solve the problem or reach the goal. In board games there can be problems that need to be mitigated to be successful in the game. For example, in the game Fire Tower (pictured below) you are trying to keep the fire from burning down your tower. So, players need to problem solve how to try and divert the fire.
What to look for in a game
- Resources to manage and decide how to use them.
- Players are working towards a goal that has multiple paths or options to achieve victory.
To Target Problem Solving
Time Management
Time management is an essential life skill. This skill involves completing a task in a given time and completing multiple steps. Another aspect of time management is being able to estimate how long something will take to complete. There are a few ways that board games can support the development of time management skills. In games that have a timed component, the practice of working in the finite time develops time management skills. Secondly, most board games have an estimated play time printed on the box. By seeing the estimated time the game will take, conversations can be engaged in to see if there is enough time to play the game chosen. This time awareness can also help develop the internal clock.
What to look for in a game
- Timers build into the game, (sand timer or digital timer)
- Time restrictions for completions of the turn or the game.
- Accurate time estimate of play time.
To Target Time Management
Working Memory
The ability to hold information and apply it in your mind is your working memory. This is similar to short term memory, but the difference is short term memory is just holding some information in your mind for a little while. Working memory involves memory used to complete an action or actions. Without strong working memory, other executive function skills can be a challenge. Just like the other skills in executive function, with more practice in a game it can apply to all other areas. There are quite a few board games where players have to remember information and do not have a visual reminder. Typically the first game children encounter which developers working memory is the classic Memory game.
What to look for in a game
- Having to remember information with minimal or without any visual reminders.
- Deducing hidden information.
- Remembering multiple steps to complete a turn.
To target Working Memory:
Organization
To be able to keep materials in a neat state and accessible is an asset in games and day to day. Most games contain components or cards that need to be kept in a way so they can easily be seen and accessed. Often games ask the cards or components to be places in certain places. There are many games that support orgamization by having game boards or players boards that designate the spot something goes. As games get more complex there often are more components to keep organized.
What to look for in a game
- Additional components: tokens, meeples, first player markers
- Game boards or players boards with designated spots for pieces.
- Cards that need to be organized in certain ways.
To Target Organization
Final Thoughts
Executive function skills are so important to functionally in school and life. Board games provide a wonderful way to practice these skills in a fun way. While the games listed focus on one skill, most games are able to support multiple skills. Whether you are an educator, therapist, or parent there are so many board games that support executive function skill development. The best part when using board game is the fun of playing the game.
What do you think? Sound off in the comments and let us know your thoughts!
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