Harnessing Video Games to Support Children with ADHD

As a parent of a child with ADHD, you may often feel overwhelmed by the challenges your child faces in focusing and learning. While schools may not always provide the tailored support your child needs, there is hope in an unexpected place: video games. These digital tools, when used correctly, can become allies in helping your child develop crucial skills. By understanding how to leverage video games effectively, you can play a pivotal role in enhancing your child’s focus and problem-solving abilities, ultimately leading to a better quality of life for both your child and your family.

Engaging with your child’s gaming can enhance their focus and learning experience
Video games can be a powerful tool for children with ADHD, particularly in improving their focus and attention. Dr. Randy Coleman, a child psychologist with over 30 years of experience, emphasizes the importance of making gaming fun and engaging. Games like EndeavorRx and Mightier are designed specifically to improve focusing skills through sensory and motor feedback. By participating in these games, children can find joy in the process of learning, which is crucial for their engagement and success. As a parent, your involvement can transform gaming from a mere pastime into a structured learning opportunity.

For parents of kids with learning challenges, video games can be a tool for growth if you engage with them, ask about their gameplay, and help them connect in-game skills to real life. Tweet Now Follow Learning Success

Encouraging metacognition through gaming can help your child apply skills in real life
One of the most significant benefits of video games for children with ADHD is the potential to develop metacognitive skills—thinking about thinking. Dr. Coleman suggests using a simple approach: “detect, reflect, connect.” This means identifying a skill used in the game, reflecting on it, and then connecting it to real-world situations. By engaging in conversations about the game with your child, you can help them recognize and apply these skills beyond the screen. Your active participation is key to helping them bridge the gap between gaming and real-life problem-solving.

Author Quote “

If you don’t make it fun, the kids aren’t going to do what they need to do. I mean, you learn because you pay attention and you focus. If you don’t pay attention, you can’t learn, you can’t remember.

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Balancing gaming with other activities is crucial for your child’s overall development
While video games can offer significant benefits, maintaining a balanced approach to your child’s activities is essential. Dr. Coleman introduces the concept of a “play diet,” which includes physical play, social interaction, and creative activities alongside digital play. He advises that about an hour of video gaming per day can be healthy, but excessive gaming can be detrimental. As a parent, you have the responsibility to monitor and guide your child’s gaming habits, ensuring they have a well-rounded routine that supports their overall development.

Key Takeaways:

Engagement in Gaming for Learning: Encourage parents to engage with their children during video game play to enhance learning. By listening and discussing what their child is doing in the game, parents can help develop metacognitive skills, allowing children to reflect on their actions and connect game skills to real-world applications.

Balanced Play Diet: Emphasize the importance of a balanced 'play diet' that includes digital play alongside physical, social, and creative play. Limiting video game time to about an hour a day can be beneficial, while also ensuring children engage in other activities to maintain a healthy lifestyle and development.

Selecting Appropriate Games: Advise parents to be selective about the video games their children play, particularly avoiding those with violent content. Games like Minecraft, Roblox, and Animal Crossing can support skills such as visual-spatial planning, but parents should monitor and guide their children’s gaming choices to ensure they are age-appropriate and beneficial.

Using video games as a tool to Improve Focus can enhance your child’s learning journey
Video games designed to improve focus, such as EndeavorRx, can be particularly beneficial for children with ADHD. These games challenge children to use their attention skills in a fun and engaging way, helping them to Improve Focus. As a parent, you can support this process by encouraging your child to play these games regularly and discussing their experiences. This not only reinforces their focus but also helps them understand the importance of concentration in achieving their goals.

Author Quote “

Endeavor is really designed to improve focusing skills and control of focus, and it’s essentially a game that uses sensory and motor feedback to help the kids improve their attention that challenges them to use those skills.

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Overcoming the challenge of generalizing gaming skills to real-life situations can lead to better outcomes for your child
One of the key challenges mentioned by Dr. Coleman is the difficulty children with ADHD face in generalizing skills learned in video games to real-life situations. This is where your role as a parent becomes crucial. By actively engaging with your child during and after gaming sessions, you can help them recognize the Problem Solving Skills they use in games and encourage them to apply these skills in their daily life. This active involvement can lead to significant improvements in your child’s ability to navigate real-world challenges, ultimately fostering a more confident and capable individual.

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