Games & Strategies to Improve Executive Functions

The summer break period can be an excellent time for parents to help children prepare for the next school year. That time can also provide a great opportunity to improve on such things as problem-solving, goal-setting, follow-through and other skills included in what are often called executive functions. Believe it or not, such skills can be developed or improved by using specific activities, strategies and even games---yes, games. We can't think of a better time to do this than during the summer break!

There has been a recent increase in the amount of information available about these executive functions. What are executive functions? Psychologists and neuro-scientists refer to this term as a unique set of mental functions or skills. These functions are related yet distinct abilities that provide for intentional, goal-directed, problem-solving actions.

In our article this week, we wanted to help parents and teachers help better prepare children and teens for the coming school year. As a result, we are including here a list of links that will provide general information, strategies, games and other resources related to the development and improvement of the various executive functions. Working on these skills now could very well enable your child or student(s) to enjoy a much more successful school year!

General Information about Executive Functions

Executive Functions & ADHD– Overview and invention strategies for parents and teachers (Includes operational definitions of terms) by Adam J. Cox, Ph.D.
http://www.lehighpsych.com/art_adhd.htm

Executive Function Skills and Disorders – WebMD explains what executive function is and discusses problems of executive function, such as difficulty in planning and organizing.
http://www.webmd.com/add-adhd/executive-function

Executive-Function Deficits in Children - ADDitude Magazine -- Improving executive-function skills can help your ADHD child overcome academic obstacles and frustration and succeed in school. Includes information about ADHD symptoms, diagnosis, etc.
http://www.additudemag.com/adhd/article/8392.html

Executive Function..."What is this anyway?" by Chris A. Zeigler Dendy, M.S.
Information provided about the components of executive functions, school success strategies and more. Article contains information helpful to teens with ADHD.
http://www.chrisdendy.com/executive.htm

Activities & Strategies to Help Improve Executive Function

Executive Function and ADHD – Improve decision making skills with scientifically designed brain games.
http://www.lumosity.com

Improve Executive Function Through Games - ADDitude Magazine -- Games that help ADHD children (and others) develop or improve executive function.
http://www.additudemag.com/adhd/article/8935.html

How to Promote Executive Function in Children with ADHD, Autism and Learning Disabilities – by Nancy Konigsberg MA OTR/L—Tips and strategies from a mother who is also an occupational therapist.
http://www.milestonemom.com/how-to-promote-executive-function-in-children-with-adhd-autism-and-learning-disabilities/

For information on customizable reading tools:
www.FocusandRead.com Tools for struggling readers of all ages!
www.BrennanInnovators.com Info & support for struggling readers
314-892-3897

Image courtesy of: Burgeoning School Psychologist: http://skoolpsych.blogspot.com/2013/01/skills-focus-executive-functioning.html

All Kinds of Brain-Training Exercises ---for You & Your Child!

You may already know that certain brain games and critical thinking activities can help train the human brain to improve cognitive skills. These are the skills needed for successful learning.

Recently, medical experts in the field of neurology (science of the brain) have made an important discovery. Your brain is an organ that possesses what is called plasticity. This means that it is mold-able and can be strengthened or even changed. The neurons in your brain, and their connecting synapses, can actually be re-arranged to promote faster, more efficient learning. Cognitive brain training exercises take advantage of this plasticity.

At the same time, did you know that playing a game of Hopscotch, Four Square or even Jumping Rope can also help improve your brain? Yes! These games and others like them can actually exercise your brain as well---as the rest of your body---and improve its function. This happens through the mastering of hand-eye coordination, balance, sequencing and other skills that promote brain connectivity or the crossing of the brain’s mid-line, a necessary part of brain training.

So, this week’s article is all about resources for improving brain function both with specific, physical exercises and with other brain-building activities. By adding a few of these to your and your child's daily regimen, you'll both be ready for just about any cognitive skill workout. What's more, your child's next school year could be even more productive! Do them together, and imagine what great things could develop for BOTH of you!

Physical Activities to Improve Brain Function

10 FREE Brain Gym Exercises (Downloadable Handout)—by Colleen Evans, Ph.D.
http://sspw.dpi.wi.gov/files/sspw/pdf/sascevanshandouts.pdf

Physical Exercise for Brain Health
http://www.positscience.com/brain-resources/everyday-brain-fitness/physical-exercise

Other Brain Training Activities

25 Sites and Tools to Exercise Brain
http://www.missiontolearn.com/2009/07/brain-training-exercises/

VIDEO: Best iPad Apps for Kids: Brain Training Games
This is the easiest way to find the right apps for your child. Over 500 iPad app reviews broken down by child's age and topic. What's hot? What's FREE?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C5AoOatLBuI
Direct Link to Related Site Providing the Apps & App Reviews
http://www.KidsBestiPadApps.com

BEST Brain-Training Apps for More FOCUS!
http://helpforstrugglingreaders.blogspot.com/2013/04/best-brain-training-apps-for-more-focus.html

Source: http://www.learningrx.com/cognitive-brain-training-exercises-faq.htm

For information on customizable reading tools:
www.FocusandRead.com Tools for struggling readers of all ages!
www.BrennanInnovators.com Info & support for struggling readers
314-892-3897

Image courtesy of: https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=168407373334202&set=pb.165629486945324.-2207520000.1371949346.&type=3&theater

BEST Brain-Training Apps for More FOCUS!

There is currently a great deal of buzz in educational circles about something called brain training. What is brain training? One definition for this term is “learning ways to increase your intelligence, memory, ability to think, etc.” (Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary & Thesaurus, published by Cambridge University Press).

How does one go about “training a brain” in order to increase the ability to focus, think or improve other executive functions? Many current methods of brain training often involve the use of digital apps targeted to address one specific or a group of cognitive skills. These may be served up via iPads and other iOS platforms or Android and similar devices.

Some of these brain-training apps are scientifically validated with documented research and can actually offer genuine cognitive training and/or even remediation or improvement programs for such issues as ADD, ADHD and other challenges that affect cognitive ability. Other “brain-training” apps are provided for their educational or entertainment value only.

This week, we have gathered here numerous brain-training apps and lists of such apps that will also include information about their scientific validation (when available). We hope these resources will provide parents, teachers and other adults some viable options for significant brain training!

iPhone, iPod Touch and iPad Brain-Training Apps

Fit Brains Trainer-by Vivity Labs (FREE)
Updated: March 20, 2013
The #1 education app in 76 countries! Top-ranked brain trainer app with more than 20,000 ratings averaging 4.5 stars worldwide. The Fit Brains Trainer is a scientifically-designed app for iPhone and iPad that provides a collection of brain games, personalized training sessions, and visual tools to help you improve your brain's performance. The Trainer utilizes an innovative and adaptive learning system that automatically scales the level of each brain game to your appropriate level.
https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/fit-brains-trainer/id565200595?mt=8

Lumosity Brain Trainer-by Lumos Labs, Inc.
(First 5 sessions FREE with subscription for remainder)
This brain training app from Lumosity is backed by solid scientific research by leading neuro-scientists from Stanford, UCSF and Berkeley universities.
https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/lumosity-brain-trainer/id338945375?mt=8

CogniFit Brain Fitness-by CogniFit
Updated: April 16, 2013
CogniFit is a scientifically validated brain training app. Play different brain games to challenge your mind and train your cognitive skills like never before!
https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/cognifit-brain-fitness/id528285610?mt=8&ign-mpt=uo%3D4

10 iPhone Apps that Boost Brain Function-by Become A Nanny
Posted : January 15, 2013 (Some apps are scientifically validated.)
Your iPhone may be able to actually boost your brainpower! These 10 apps are great brain-training apps that are purported to increase brain function, actually making you smarter!
http://www.awaken.com/2013/01/10-iphone-apps-that-boost-brain-function/

Ansel & Clair: Triassic Dinosaurs-by Cognitive Kid, Inc. (Price: $1.99---for iPad)
All three apps in the Dinosaur Trilogy begin with Ansel & Clair visiting a modern dinosaur dig site. Meet paleontologist Dr. Lindy Bones, learn about cool fossil tools and then dig for fossils from the Triassic period. Travel back in time to meet Triassic dinosaurs and other creatures. Learn a variety of different concepts and contextual subjects including science, geography, geology, and of course zoology, without even realizing it. The first three Ansel & Clair apps have won 15 awards from prestigious parenting and product review organizations including the Parent’s Choice 2012 Silver Award Winner and others.(Researched and scientifically accurate)
https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/ansel-clair-triassic-dinosaurs/id578083679?ls=1&mt=8

Top 10 Brain Training Apps for iPad and iPhone-List by AppCrawler Beta (Price: FREE or $.99 each)
The 10 BEST brain-training apps from the reviews of 460 total apps ---Various developers (Some apps are scientifically validated.)
http://appcrawlr.com/ios-apps/best-apps-brain-training

Android Brain-Training Apps

Brain Training---by QQ TSUBASA (FREE)
Find out your “brain age”. Simple yet addicting app that tests your “brain age” based on your game performance. (No information is available regarding scientific validation.)
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=qqtsubasa.android.brain&hl=en

Brain Training: Focus-by IT-EO (FREE)
Feeling out of focus? Want to improve your concentration skills? Train your brain with Brain Training: Focus! Focus is an addictive brain teaser game, where you match the Color of the word with it's name, while being mislead by your daily thinking habits. This app is based on a scientific discovery made by American psychologist John Ridley Stroop that demonstrates interference in attention.
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.iteo.crazybraincolors&hl=en

Top Android Apps for the Brain-by ModernChakra (Lists provide both FREE and $ apps)
This article is actually a compilation of several short articles with different lists of brain-training apps. Obviously designed for mobility, these apps are great for keeping your brain sharp when you have a bit of free time. Take a few minutes and play some memory games, or reflex games---anything to keep your mind active and alert. (Some apps are scientifically validated.)
http://www.squidoo.com/android-brain-apps

Top 10 Brain Training Apps for Android-List by AppCrawler Beta (Price: All are FREE)
The 10 BEST brain-training apps for Android devices from the reviews of 154 total apps---Various developers (No information is available regarding scientific validation.)
http://appcrawlr.com/app/search?q=brain+training&topic=brain+training&topicId=1&category=&device=android&search=search&_src=facet_device

General Brain Training Program Lists from BrainGameReview (with Reviews)
Web page offering 3 categories with links to various types of brain-training programs:
1. A children’s section or product for general cognitive skills training
2. A list of brain training publishers offering K-12 cognitive training or ADHD remediation/improvement programs
3. A list of sites providing online games with an educational or entertainment focus. Most of these sites do not offer (or claim) any scientific validation behind their games.
http://www.braingamereview.com/brain-training-games-for-kids/

Sources:

BrainGameReview
Website with lists, links and reviews of brain-training apps
http://www.braingamereview.com/neuroplasticity-brain-plasticity/

Brain-Training Tools for More Attention, Less Deficit-Article by Paul Gilbert (ADDitude Magazine)
These ADHD therapies offer fun and games with a serious purpose: increasing your child's focus.
http://www.additudemag.com/adhd/article/10076.html

For information on customizable reading tools:
www.FocusandRead.com Tools for struggling readers of all ages!
www.BrennanInnovators.com Info & support for struggling readers
314-892-3897

Image courtesy of: http://assets1.bigthink.com/system/idea_thumbnails/49980/headline/brain_gears_2.jpg?1365347453