“Brain Games” are activities that encourage healthy brain development while the child is playing a game. There are a lot of simple activities that are brain games like “Connect the Dots”, and there are also formalized board games, which is what I’m going to focus on here.
Children with Reactive Attachment Disorder typically have a weak grasp of cause and effect. It’s as if their brain is so discombobulated by their past trauma that they have trouble anticipating what will happen if they lean against the middle of a stack of books. Oh, oops. The books fell over. (Ya, they aren’t always faking that. Sometimes they truly didn’t anticipate the result of even a simple action.) Logically, if you lean your weight against something lighter, you’re going to push it over, right?
Would you like your child’s logical thinking to improve? Give them time with a brain game that builds those skills.
Learning actually does happen best when the child is having fun!
One of my favorite logic puzzles is Chocolate Fix!
Chocolate Fix by ThinkFun $19.99
Here’s how it works. The card gives you clues as to where a few pieces should be placed in the chocolate box. The player has to figure out where all the pieces go using those clues.
Pros
· 1 player
· Builds logic, reasoning, and deductive problem-solving skills
· Stores neatly in a small pouch
· Has very few pieces (and no tiny pieces, except the markers which aren’t necessary for play)
· Great for taking on trips and outtings like doctor’s appointments and meetings where the child needs to sit quietly
· Simpler set up than the game RushHour
· Easy enough for young children to try and enjoy while also challenging enough for adults!
· 40 puzzles to figure out, held together with a great spiral binding
· Puzzles gradually get harder so kids get a sense of achievement as they graduate up. (Do NOT let them skip around!)
Cons
· Food-obsessed kids may be triggered by the chocolate theme. However, in some cases it’s also true that the kid is obsessed about food whether they’re playing a game about food or not, so there’s no point in withholding a great game.
· Tip: Put the grid in the bag first followed by cards and pieces. The benefit of this is that it helps kids practice order.
I also recommend Gravity Maze!
Gravity Maze by ThinkFun $29.99
Here’s how it works. The card indicates where the maze should start and end, with which color tower, what other towers must be included and where. The player must construct a maze to those specifications. Then the player drops the marble into the top of the starting tower to test his maze. The marble should roll through the maze to the end point on its own. This accomplished by starting with taller towers and decreasing to shorter ones.
Pros
· 1 Player
· Builds logic, spatial reasoning, problem-solving skills, and visual processing
· Easy enough for young children to try and enjoy while also challenging enough for adults!
· 60 puzzles to figure out
· Puzzles gradually get harder so kids get a sense of achievement as they graduate up. (Do NOT let them skip around!)
Cons
· Includes tiny marbles
· Higher price point
· Tip: Put the grid in the bag first followed by cards and pieces. The benefit of this is that it helps kids practice order.
Now you may be asking...
“Why would I want to give my child this nice toy when
they spend most of their time destroying things?”
This is a reasonable question. I give the children time with a brain game when:
· The child is relatively calm.
· The child is having quiet time in their bedroom, and I’m willing to check that all pieces have been returned when playtime is up.
· Or, the child is playing under adult supervision.
So, why would you want to give your disobedient child a great game?
1. Do you want your child to develop sound logic to help them make good behavior choices?
2. Do you want a few moments of peace and quiet created by the fact that your child is actually doing something good?
3. Do you want to do tangible, observable things that demonstrate to other adults in your child’s life that you are making an effort to help your child learn and grow?
4. Do you want your child to develop healthy self-esteem based on real strengths and abilities to do good?
5. Do you want your child to believe that you are good, nice and on his side?
If you’ve said yes to those questions, then it’s in your best interest to give your child time with brain games.
Brain games are educational and healing.
Since education and healing don’t have to be earned
neither does brain game time.
You get to be the good guy and give brain game time for free!