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Board games can be a great way to sneak in some life skills. Here are a few for the younger kids that help them develop social awareness, which can be a skill that might need some strengthening if your child has ADHD.
Hedbanz Junior (2 or more players, ages 5+):
In this game, players place a card with an image on it in a slot on their headband so that they cannot see the image. They then take turns asking questions that will help them determine the image on their cards. They must also answer the questions asked by other players.
Taking turns is a practice in impulse control and asking and answering questions in a way that requires critical thinking will help kids practice keeping their brains engaged in conversations.
In this no-reading required version of charades, kids have a chance to act out what's on the card while other players guess what they are acting out.
Charades is a great way for creative kids to express themselves and use their imaginations and also a great way to learn cooperative play, empathy, and nonverbal communication.
Red Light, Green Light (1-4 players, ages 4-8):
Not exactly a board game, but a great active game that incorporates social learning nonetheless. In this classic game, players stand at a distance and wait until they hear "green light" to signal that they can walk or run toward the goal. But don't go too fast, or you'll miss the command to stop on "red light" and have to return to the starting line. This electronic version detects motion and also comes with two other games (freeze dance and "sneaky steps").
Kids will have fun competing with each other to reach the goal, and the motion detector cuts down on the fighting with a non-biased referee. This game helps kids practice impulse control, following directions/cues, and provides an opportunity to teach them how to compete gracefully with others.
Found It! (1+ players, ages 4-7):
In this scavenger hunt game, players take turns drawing cards that prompt them to find items around the house. For example, they might find something sticky or something they could write with. Players can compete or work together to find items. Younger kids might need some help with reading cards although each written prompt also comes with an illustration.
Kids will have fun scanning their environment for items that fit the card. They will learn cooperative play as they work toward a common goal or compete to find items. They will also practice focus skills as they search and will enjoy using creativity to find items others might not have thought of.
Go Fish! (2-6 players, ages 3+):
In this classic card game, players try to make matches by taking turns asking each other for the type of card they lack. If the questioned player has it, that player must give it up to the other player.
This game teaches taking turns, communication skills, and cooperative play as kids determine who is most likely to have the card they need and must ask for it as well as give up cards they may have wanted to hold on to.
Board games can be a fun, low-stakes way to teach young kids with ADHD the social skills they may be lacking. By practicing social skills through board games, kids can feel more able to conquer the social obstacles that may come their way at school and with friends.
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