Working memory Games ideas, attention span

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Thanks to those who helped me come up with board game ideas for working memory
I am still looking for any idea for working, memory or attention span building ideas.
It can cost money or be free.
I looked into the higher cost cognitive programs but the studies do not back them up Has anyone tried one of them

Working memory and attention span effect my child greatly. ADHD meds are useless.

What I have so far.
1. I have clue and blokus. The last time my child and I played blokus they wanted to end the game early so they ganged up on me to trap me.
2. I got a few free board games for ipad like snakes and latters, checkers, connect four type game
3. I plan to buy a few more games like Uno. I'd buy monopoly but my husband thinks it goes on to long.

I just got "Simon" from the App Store. I also got my kid some detective/ hidden picture game. Search "hidden pictures" or "detective games for kids" in the App Store and let him choose what appeals to him.

Another game that would be good is "Farafalla" by Bart Bonte. It is a maze type game where you have to find items, and you really need to remember where you have been before to get through it. It is not an app, but is free online. Also by Bart Bonte is "Factory Balls" (that's also an app) and "A Bonte Christmas." These are fun and require a lot of focus.

I did download some of those brain training apps, but my kid hates them. I don't think it is worth it (for him) if he does not find it engaging, because it won't stick. So, I am going the straight up game route.

I think Clue is great for working memory, my kids love it.

Fitzi

My child hates most of the brain training apps I found, finds them boring
hates Simon would have to be more graphic
does like like talking tom
I did get hidden Object games for my kids cheap android
I downloaded them because my child was getting frustrated with the hidden object Game
the last piece was always hard to find and would time out
I added some more memory games
Also some match 3

I don't know about apps, but as far as board games like Monopoly but that take less time: Careers, and Life are both a similar kind of premise but don't take 5 years to finish. Also a note on Monopoly, you can make it shorter by just setting a time limit and counting who has the most money at the end.

I want to mention again Secret Door and Labyrinth just because they are both really good for working memory. This is the Labyrinth I'm talking about (I googled it and there is another one that I've never played before): https://www.ravensburger.com/uk/games/f ... index.html

Secret Door is like Memory, except you're trying to solve a mystery so it may appeal to a child who otherwise doesn't really love Memory.

Finally I wanted to add, are you familiar with The Famous Five by Enid Blyton? It's a series of books. If you are, another game that is quite good for working memory is called "The Haunted Hills Mystery Jigsaw Puzzle Game". Basically, you do puzzle, then you listen to a story, and then you solve the mystery questions by remembering the story and looking at the puzzle. You could probably make a version of this yourself, by writing some kind of story based on a photograph and then have the kids solve the mystery questions that you wrote.

labyrinth what a great idea.
I was looking up a labyrinth game to buy on Amazon and I realized a labyrinth type app called Marble Math.
I think I need to get her to use it more. My child just doesn't play it much because she plays her android more now.
Secret Door sounds interesting will put that on my wish list

Space Mines Patrol!

These games can be fun, but it is unclear how much game score gains would generalize into real world of schoolwork, chores, other tasks, etc. Most studies find that improvements in some function like working memory are limited to within the game, not in the real world on a different working memory task that was not trained specifically.

I don't know. However, I believe that some functions improved in my brain when I started becoming really interested in games, logic puzzles, crosswords, etc. One game made me better at other games etc., I found. Maybe only because I was less likely to shy away from a challenge, or just had more confidence, but I do think playing games is good for the brain. Whether or not they will help my son with his working memory, i can't say- but I think playing games is always good anyway. The reason, though, that I am not pushing him to play anything he finds boring is because I also suspect these "brain training" apps are just a fad concept. My kid has always loved games, though. And I think that, even if they don't actually help with working memory, they will serve to help find ways to cope with having a weak working memory. But, I think they will only work (for my kid) if he actually really likes the game.

Fitzi
I think btbnnyr is referring to an actually study that was done on expensive brain training software that states the expensive software/therapy doesn't gain skills outside the game. Its why I am not plucking thousands of dollars for the brain training therapy. If these therapies were proven to work I would be inclined to use them.
btbnnyr might be right and board games might not work beyond board games but board games usually are under 40 bucks. So if they don't work I am not really out much.
Clue cost less than $12
My labyrinth style math app cost less than $4
I don't know if board games have been studied or if they were part of the brain training.
Its just my child is 10. I see so much potential but I am not sure where to proceed but I do know helping the attention span issues, and working memory will help my child succeed.

I think that games are always good for the brain. I don't mean the brain training stuff, which I wouldn't dump a lot of money into either unless it was proven to be effective. But, I think strategy games are really helpful in developing higher level thinking. And, I would think games like Clue would be helpful too. Memory type games like Clue and Secret Door may not serve to suddenly light up the working memory part of the brain, but if the kid is interested in the game and wants to win, it will help the child find their own strategies for memorizing information.

Games that my 10 year old likes are Settlers of Catan (you have to keep track of several bits of information in it, but not overwhelming), Castle Panic (again, you have to focus), Kingdoms (lots of math focus), Qwirkle (focus and pattern recognition), Chess ( focus, attention, recall of previous game strategy, strategy) and Clue.

What are your child's particular interests? Maybe we can come up with game ideas based on that. For example, my kid likes fantasy/ adventure, so Dungeons and Dragons would be good for him. I am kind of a board game geek, so I know a lot of the games that are out there.

I am talking about brain training games like lumosity and their questionable applicability to real world activities. People saying that they helped them become sharper mean little due to strong placebo effect esp if they chose to pay for it. They would need to demonstrate clear gains on untrained tasks in same domain like working memory or attention to show beneficial effects of games. For me as a child, I think creative or intellectual projects were verry merry berry engaging.

my working memory isn't as good as I wish it was either.


btbnnyr
What projects helped you?
Even if the brain training software worked their graphics and game play are usually so boring my child would never want
to play them.


Fitzi
I better look up some of those games.
I am going to add chess to my child's android as well. I added a lot of hidden object games.
I am planning to buy word search books as well.
I have been thinking of getting Settlers of Catan but I am not sure my child will grasp it. My child still struggles with clue.
I have Qwirkle and operation but sadly lost too many pieces to both.
I have a game called picwits which helps creative thinking.
I am also considering making my own word games.

my working memory isn't as good as I wish it was either.


btbnnyr
What projects helped you?
Even if the brain training software worked their graphics and game play are usually so boring my child would never want
to play them.


Fitzi
I better look up some of those games.
I am going to add chess to my child's android as well. I added a lot of hidden object games.
I am planning to buy word search books as well.
I have been thinking of getting Settlers of Catan but I am not sure my child will grasp it. My child still struggles with clue.
I have Qwirkle and operation but sadly lost too many pieces to both.
I have a game called picwits which helps creative thinking.
I am also considering making my own word games.

I think hands-on projects like building things are particularly good for cognitive development.
Making something out of scratch, like sand into sand castles are great too.
Kitchen chemistry is really fun.
I preferred activities without much rules like most games have.
I found that I didn't like doing things within game rules, they are too narrow and contrived.
The same for IQ tests, it is a totally different feeling solving IQ-test-like problem like contrived puzzle vs. real world problems like in science research, there's no comparison between which is more intellectually engaging and creative, games and tests don't do it for me, I am not motivated towards them, no matter how good they look, just the internal process doesn't feel engaging enough to continue.
Real world tasks are good, the frequent fixing of my parents many computer problems that they inflicted on themselves (yes, click to download, install now, why not?!) also helped me learn computer skills, googling skills, tolerating frustration, thinking flexibly, having confidence to tackle problems, it seems that fixing other people's mess is really a good way to improve one's own abilities.
My parents had me do some of their tasks that they didn't want to do, it was good training for adulthood, and I was happy to do grown-up things.

btbnnyr
My child can play on the computer but not fix the computer.
My child well doesn't like hand one activity used to love cracking the egg for the cakes but best friend is allergic so now my child hates all eggs. My child denies its about the friend but it is about the friend. Its very cute.
So I am pushing some projects like word searches with paper, reading with real books, cleaning, and we will be doing art projects. My ten year old likes to glue stuff, but hates to draw. Was the only child in special ed who did the grandparents college by oneself.

I ran into a snag my child didn't want to play clue last night but I did convince to play snakes and ladders on the ipad.
Sadly its only a two player game but its cute. I wanted to do more real board games but as long as they are more than one player I am okay. There is no clutter at list. I wish there were more 4 player board games on ipad. I downloaded a few more virtual board games and will try them out.

we will also more projects and on things. I have been getting a scrap art box for such a thing.


I am making a small list of games I want. I think just Settlers of Catan and Secret Door, maybe a card game for now and maybe the ipad version of skip bo. Those seem like the whole family would be interested in those.
I think I need to toss operation we keep losing all the parts. Its the Despicable Me version so parts will be harder to find unless I make them myself out of play dough. Quirkle I am keeping the kids still use that for blocks, and imaginative play. I might go over it and see if we can play it a slightly different way as well.



I think I might have more luck when school is over.