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Games for ADHD

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder is estimated by the National Institute of Mental Health to affect between 2 to 3 percent of children in the U.S. Children with ADHD are typically easily distracted, have trouble following instructions, cannot keep their attention on work or school activities or at home, and may be forgetful. Although ADHD can be a challenge for parents of children with the condition, using games to manage the condition is fun for both parents and children.

  1. Outdoor Games

    • Children with hyperactivity are more interested in outdoor games that require a high energy level than in board games, according to the ADHD Child Parenting Guides website. A child with ADHD enjoys active games like climbing trees, running, jumping and hide and seek. In addition, outdoor activities help to avoid excessive time spent watching TV or playing video games. A study by Edward Swing, a graduate student at Iowa State University, concluded that children who exceeded the American Academy of Pediatrics recommendation of less than two hours of screen time per day were more likely to have greater than average attention span problems, according to Medicine Net.com.

    Commands Game

    • Daniel T. Moore, PhD, describes a commands game that helps the ADHD child who suffers from memory problems. The object of the game is to see how many commands she can successfully complete. Some children cannot remember two, three or four instructions simultaneously; however, most can get up to four. Start with asking the child to complete a task involving four commands, such as bringing you items, putting an item away and turning a light on or off. If the child can remember all four commands, give her lots of praise. Move on to five commands and keep playing the game until the child forgets a command, then end the game for the day and congratulate the child for what she was able to do. When you play the game again, make beating the child's previous record a goal. Play the game at least daily, six times a week to improve the child's short-term memory. Once the child consistently remembers 12 simple commands, not necessarily in the order you gave them, move on to complex commands or tasks that require several steps, such as washing the dishes or taking out the trash. A good goal is for the child to remember four complex commands.

    Coin Game

    • The coin game is used in Dr. Robert Myers's Total Focus Program to improve the child's memory and sequencing, as well as his attention and concentration. The game requires a small pile of assorted coins, a cardboard sheet and a watch that can be used for timing. Put five coins from the pile in a sequence, such as three pennies and two nickles. Tell your child to observe the coins carefully, then cover them with the cardboard and ask the child to make the same pattern with the coins remaining in the pile. When the child has completed the task, remove the cardboard and mark down the time whether or not the pattern is correct. Encourage the child to keep trying until he can reproduce the pattern correctly, and increase the difficulty of the patterns as you go.

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