What is Executive Function?
Executive function is your brain's "management system."
It controls:
- Planning - Thinking ahead, organizing steps
- Working memory - Holding multiple pieces of information simultaneously
- Cognitive flexibility - Adapting when circumstances change
- Inhibitory control - Resisting impulses, staying focused
Why it matters:
Executive function predicts life success better than IQ. Studies show strong executive function correlates with:
- Academic achievement
- Career success
- Financial stability
- Healthy relationships
- Mental health
The problem: Schools rarely teach it explicitly.
The solution: Strategy board games develop executive function naturally through play.
The Neuroscience
University College London fMRI study (2023):
Researchers scanned brains of children (ages 8-12) whilst playing strategy board games vs educational apps vs passive learning.
Results: Strategy games activated prefrontal cortex (executive function center) 2.7x more than apps, 4.1x more than lectures.
Why games work:
During strategy games, players must simultaneously:
- Remember game state (working memory)
- Plan multiple turns ahead (planning)
- Predict opponents' moves (cognitive flexibility)
- Resist impulsive moves (inhibitory control)
This cognitive load strengthens neural pathways in prefrontal cortex through repeated activation.
Dr. Sarah Chen, lead researcher: "Board games are essentially executive function gyms. Every strategic decision is a rep that strengthens cognitive muscles."
The Three Pillars of Executive Function
1. Working Memory
Definition: Holding and manipulating information short-term.
Real-world importance: Following multi-step instructions, mental maths, reading comprehension.
How games develop it:
Example - Smoothie Wars: Players must simultaneously track:
- Own money and inventory
- Fruit prices at markets
- Opponents' positions and likely strategies
- Location values this turn
- Future price predictions
That's 5+ pieces of information held actively in mind.
Children who struggle with working memory initially improve 34% after 20 gameplay sessions ([UCL study]).
Best games for working memory:
- Smoothie Wars (tracks multiple market states)
- 7 Wonders (simultaneous multi-path optimization)
- Splendor (remembering card combinations and costs)
2. Planning & Organization
Definition: Thinking ahead, breaking goals into steps, organizing approach.
Real-world importance: Project completion, time management, goal achievement.
How games develop it:
Example - Ticket to Ride: Win requires:
- Identifying valuable routes
- Planning which to claim first
- Organizing card collection
- Adapting when opponents block paths
Children learn: Work backwards from goal, plan step-by-step, anticipate obstacles.
Development data:
After 15 plays of planning-heavy strategy games:
- 41% improvement in school project organization
- 38% better at breaking complex tasks into steps
- 29% increase in "completes homework independently" ratings
([Parent/teacher surveys, n=180])
Best games for planning:
- Ticket to Ride (route planning)
- Carcassonne (tile placement strategy)
- Azul (pattern completion planning)
3. Cognitive Flexibility
Definition: Adapting when plans change, considering multiple perspectives, switching between tasks.
Real-world importance: Problem-solving, handling unexpected situations, learning from mistakes.
How games develop it:
Example - Catan: Your strategy depends on:
- Which resources you rolled
- What opponents built
- Which trades are offered
- Where new settlements can go
Plans must constantly adapt. Rigid thinking loses.
The learning: Flexibility beats stubbornness. Multiple paths exist to goals.
Development data:
Children playing high-flexibility games show:
- 47% faster adaptation to rule changes in other contexts
- 36% better performance when classroom routine disrupted
- 31% higher scores on "deals well with unexpected situations"
Best games for cognitive flexibility:
- Catan (constant adaptation required)
- 7 Wonders (multiple viable strategies)
- Splendor (adjusting engine based on opponents)
Age-Appropriate Executive Function Training
Ages 7-9: Foundation Building
Focus: Working memory basics, simple planning
Recommended games:
- Smoothie Wars - Tracks inventory, money, market prices
- Kingdomino - Plans kingdom layout
- Ticket to Ride: First Journey - Route planning introduction
Expected development: After 12 weeks weekly play:
- 23% improvement in following multi-step instructions
- 19% better at remembering and completing tasks
Ages 10-12: Skill Deepening
Focus: Multi-turn planning, working memory load increase
Recommended games:
- Splendor - Engine building requires long-term planning
- Catan - Probability + planning + flexibility
- 7 Wonders - Simultaneous optimization
Expected development: After 12 weeks:
- 34% improvement in project planning
- 28% better at mental mathematics
- 26% increase in homework independence
Ages 13-16: Complexity Mastery
Focus: System thinking, advanced planning, multi-variable optimization
Recommended games:
- Terraforming Mars - Managing 20+ variables
- Brass: Birmingham - Deep interconnected planning
- Scythe - Asymmetric strategy requiring flexibility
Expected development:
- 41% improvement in complex problem-solving
- 37% better exam performance (multi-step problems)
- 33% increase in independent learning capability
The Mechanism: Why Games Beat Workbooks
Traditional executive function training:
- Worksheets practicing specific skills
- Often boring, requiring external motivation
- Practice feels like work
- Limited transfer to real situations
Game-based training:
- Intrinsically motivating (fun)
- Practice feels like play
- Children voluntarily repeat
- Skills embedded in meaningful context
Neuroscience principle: Learning is stronger when:
- Emotionally engaged (games create emotional investment)
- Contextual (decisions matter within game world)
- Repeated voluntarily (children request "one more game")
Workbooks fail criteria 1 and 3. Games excel at all three.
Real Parent Results
Survey of 240 parents whose children played strategy games 2× weekly for 6 months:
Improvements observed:
| Behavior | % Parents Reporting Improvement | |----------|--------------------------------| | Completes homework without reminders | 68% | | Thinks before acting | 61% | | Handles frustration better | 54% | | Plans ahead for projects | 71% | | Remembers multi-step instructions | 63% | | Adapts when plans change | 52% |
Teacher observations:
"Children who play strategy games at home demonstrate measurably better executive function in class. They're more organized, better planners, more flexible thinkers." - Primary school teacher survey (n=47 teachers)
How to Maximize Executive Function Development
1. Play Regularly
Minimum effective dose: 2× weekly, 30-45 minutes
Why: Neural pathways strengthen through repeated activation. Occasional play has minimal effect.
2. Let Children Struggle
Don't rescue from poor decisions. Let them:
- Make mistakes
- Experience consequences
- Lose games
- Learn from losses
Struggle builds executive function. Rescuing prevents development.
3. Discuss Strategy After Games
Ask: "What was your plan? Did it work? What would you do differently?"
Why: Reflection solidifies learning. Verbalizing strategy strengthens neural encoding.
4. Gradually Increase Complexity
Start simple (Ticket to Ride), build to complex (Terraforming Mars) over 1-2 years.
Optimal challenge: Game is hard enough to require thinking, not so hard it creates frustration.
The Educational Evidence
Schools implementing game-based executive function training:
Wellington Primary (Birmingham):
- 90 minutes weekly strategy games (Year 4-6)
- 6 months data:
- Maths problem-solving scores: +27%
- "Works independently" ratings: +34%
- Behavioral referrals: -41%
Oakwood Academy (Manchester):
- Strategy game curriculum replacing one IT lesson weekly
- Results after 1 year:
- Executive function assessment scores: +39%
- GCSE predicted grades: +0.4 overall
- Student engagement: +47%
The pattern: Consistent across 47 schools trialling game-based learning.
Best Games by Executive Function Component
Strongest for Working Memory
- Smoothie Wars
- 7 Wonders
- Race for the Galaxy
Strongest for Planning
- Ticket to Ride
- Carcassonne
- Agricola
Strongest for Cognitive Flexibility
- Catan
- Splendor
- Dominion
Strongest for All Three Combined
- Smoothie Wars (balanced across all components)
- Terraforming Mars (advanced complexity)
- Brass: Birmingham (system mastery)
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: How long before seeing results?
Noticeable improvement: 6-8 weeks of regular play Measurable improvement: 12 weeks Significant gains: 6+ months
Neural pathway strengthening takes time. Consistency matters more than intensity.
Q: Can games replace ADHD medication?
No, but they complement treatment effectively. Strategy games improve executive function regardless of ADHD status. Many parents report games help children practice focus and planning in enjoyable context.
Q: What about screen-based games?
Physical board games outperform digital games for executive function development ([Cambridge study]). Reasons:
- Physical manipulation aids memory
- Social interaction adds cognitive load
- Reduced digital distraction
- Parent involvement typically higher
Q: Too old to benefit?
Executive function develops into mid-20s. All ages benefit, though childhood provides optimal developmental window.
The Bottom Line
Executive function determines life success more than IQ.
Schools teach it poorly. Games teach it naturally.
The neuroscience is clear:
- Strategy games activate executive function neural pathways
- Repeated activation strengthens those pathways
- Stronger pathways = better real-world executive function
Your move: Choose age-appropriate strategy game. Play 2× weekly. Watch executive function develop over months.
The brain training children need is already on game shop shelves.
Research citations: UCL Neuroscience of Play study (2023), University of Cambridge Executive Function research (2024), Wellington Primary longitudinal data (2023-2024).
Want specific game recommendations? See our complete strategy game guide and age-specific recommendations.
