“How can I help my kids improve their ability to focus?”
“Do I have to buy a lot of different boardgames to help improve my kid’s attention?”
Do you know that playing cards are excellent tools for improving kids’ attention?
Playing cards are great not just because they’re easily accessible, but also because they can be modified easily into a variety of games that strengthens different aspect of our attention.
Today, IM OT Clinic is sharing 3 simple modified Slapjack games that are fun for the entire family and also help children focus better.
Players: 2 people and above
How to play: Players take turns flipping a card face up into the middle. Once a certain number, color, or suit appears, players have to make a movement accordingly.
Grading the activity:
Easy: Choose either a number, color, or suit to act on. E.g. Slap the cards whenever a “heart” appears.
Intermediate: Choose 2 of the 3 categories, or 2 items in the same category, to act on. E.g. Slap the cards whenever a “5” or a “red” appears; Touch nose when “5” appears, and pat on knees when “7” appears.
Difficult: Set up different rules for each round, so the kids can practice alternating attention and flexibility. E.g. Slap the cards whenever a “5” or a “red” appears in this round. Next round, only slap when “black” or “2” appears.
Benefits:
- Improve sustained attention. Holding and maintaining their focus on the cards and reacting to them can help children strengthen the concentration needed for learning.
- Improve alternating attention. By switching or transferring focus from one rule to another, kids can practice alternating their attention in tasks.
We hope you enjoy today’s activity idea! Stay tuned, we’ll be sharing more attention-related playing cards activities like this in our upcoming posts.
