Think Fast: 9 Games to Build Processing Speed
Processing speed is an essential skill for every area of life. It’s the gateway skill: every single thing we do goes through processing speed. And for kids or adults who struggle in this area, many areas of life are harder. Building processing speed is essential for:
- Keeping your brain sharp and active both for kids and adults
- Having quick reaction times (great for sports, driving, conversation skills, and more)
- Being able to keep up with conversations, lectures, or busy environments
- Strong reading comprehension, focus, math fluency, and other key areas of academic life
- And more!
If you notice your child (or yourself) moving at a little slower pace than peers, building processing speed is an important step to unlock a stronger brain. While games alone are not enough to fully close the gap for most individuals, they are a great tool to get your brain thinking faster!
“My Child Just Moves Slow”
This is something we hear often, but it’s also a phrase we’d push back against and say: “But what if they didn’t?”
Yes, we all have our strengths and weaknesses. Yes, it’s ok if it takes your child a little longer to complete a test or get out the door in the morning. But what would life be like if their processing speed was faster and more efficient? Just because it’s “the way it is” doesn’t mean it has to stay that way.
The brain is capable of amazing growth and change with targeted intervention. Click here to read more about the results of brain training for kids and adults >>
Great Games to Build Processing Speed
Here’s a helpful list to get your brain moving faster on your next family game night!
Note: if you or your child struggles with slow processing speed, many of these games may not feel “fun” at first. We are all inclined to avoid the things that are hard for us, so playing games that are aligned with skill weaknesses may be a challenge at the beginning. Keep at it – with time and practice, their confidence should increase and they’ll become more enjoyable!
Bananagrams
Think a speedy version of Scrabble here! Bananagrams is a great game for players to not only have to think fast but also practice spelling, vocabulary, and critical thinking skills.
Blink
This is a super fast-paced game that will get your brain moving quickly while matching colors, numbers, or shapes on cards in your hands.
Bop-It
This hands-on classic is a great one to get your brain progressively thinking faster and your body moving!
Dutch Blitz
There’s a lot to take in quickly in this game! Players have to keep an eye on their hands, stacks of cards in the middle of the table, and the people around them.
Pit
This one is fast (and loud!) Players compete to be the first to get a full suit of cards in their hands by trading with others… the catch is, you don’t know what you’re getting!
Simon
This is a great one-player game to build working memory as well as processing speed as you remember the patterns the game prompts you with!
Spot It
There are several different ways to play this fast-paced matching game! Players race to find an object that matches on their card with a central card, so it’s a great way to get your brain thinking faster as well as building visual processing skills.
Sushi Go
This fast-paced card game is easy to learn and play anywhere! Pass or keep cards to get the best sushi combo as quickly as you can.
Taco Cat Goat Cheese Pizza
This is a favorite for many ages, and it’s also a perfect tool to practice skills like processing speed and working memory!
Cognitive Skills Game Pack
Check out this FREE download for more games to practice skills like attention, processing speed, logic, and more with materials you probably already have at home!
