Working memory Games ideas, attention span

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The "attention deficit" in ADHD is a misnomer. Children on the spectrum don't have attention deficit. They can pay attention very well to things that they like. So, to gain attention span, and introduce them to other subjects, you simply need to start from what they already like, and expand from there. E.g., my son couldn't focus on static images, couldn't read. But he liked to watch one dinosaur cartoon video. So, I simply prepared static frames and "modulated" them into my son's favorite dinosaur video clip. That was how he learned to call me "Papa," and learned to focus on static images. Using hand-made cartoon-ish video clips with speech bubbles, I taught him to read, too. Hyperactivity? Gone.

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I made games. Commercial games: educational software games for children. At least one of the titles was so successful that it sold for about 10 years in the USA.

The benefit of software games is mostly hand-eye coordination. How much hand-eye coordination do we want from our children? Games are games. They are entertainment. They are good motivators. But in the long haul, games just can' replace other learning tools.

Building blocks and magnetic drawing boards are much better games, for the development of children. Humans become humans because they develop deep thinking skills. To develop deep thinking skills you need to close the "outer feedback loop." For neurotypical children, that's easy: they can hear their own voices when they talk. For children on the spectrum, they need to be able to produce their own manual-visual output. Computer games by nature are limited: all the possibilities are pre-programmed. Building blocks and magnetic drawing boards don't have that limitation: each time the result is new. The best thing is, you can talk to your children, communicate with them, and teach them other skills. I drew pictures for my children, and hand-made cartoon-style video clips for them. I don't believe in third-party software applications, for one thing: each child's life is unique. Application developers don't know the intimate life details of your children. Your starting point should be something related to your children's lives. You catch your children's attention that way, and develop their imagination from there. Best of all, at bedtime, you can "talk" to your children by drawing pictures, review their accomplishments, go through their frustrations and tantrum issues, and prepare them for what's coming tomorrow.

Magnetic drawing boards, building block toys, and 4x6 blank index cards (plus mini-photo-album pouches). That's probably all what's needed. Sure, make some cartoon video clips if you have the skills (otherwise get another adult or teenager to make them for you.) I would say that in my daughter's early childhood, she virtually learned everything she needed to learn from the magnetic drawing board. That's the power of one single toy.

And these words come from someone who works in the tech industry, and who has really made commercial, educational software games for children. I am not anti-technology (I can't be, right?), my children do play games. But games should only play a supplementary role.

eikonabridge

Thank you I found your comments interesting.
I do agree, I do know there are limits with apps and video games.
Its also easy for games just to take over. My child would do nothing else but play video games.
I use apps and games mostly as rewards for other activities such as reading, though I do have a few educational apps like Marble math.
I am impressed with people like my husband and yourself who can program or create software. I am not sure I could ever do that myself.

I thought board games might work because they deal with turn taking, hands on and strategy. I have most of the games I need but maybe want to get one or two strategy and one child's card game to supplement my more hand on activities.
I could be wrong and they might be worthless.

While I do have a learning disability that hinders editing I am a published children's ebook writer. I used that skill to teach reading by making personalized books on the computer with photographs. I tried to teach reading with subtitles but it just caused upsets, but I am trying again. One of my child's favorite children's programs got
replaced with the original show without dubbing. My child realizes there is no other way to watch it.

I do believe some children with autism have ADHD but that my child's attention span is not related to ADHD.
My child is passive and inattentive. Its more due to poor motivation and poor working memory.
Its also beilved that my child has an undiagnosed learning
The working memory deficit has been tested and most likely inherited from me.
My working memory has never been strong. I usually have to write a task out in order to complete it.

How do you use your magnetic board?
we have a magnetic drawing board kind of fuzzy sometimes we put daily tasks on it or just draw

Cake, which test was used to measure your and your son's working memory?
I am curious, because working memory is one of my current research areas (we are trying to improve it).

Last school provided it as part of the schools Evaluation report. We've been through lots of schools and this school was very in-depth.

btbnnyr
I am doing heavy research on working memory myself is yours personal or academic.
I suspect my working memory is poor because I had my iq tested as a child by professionals and was in the high range I think 120 to 130
but with all the deficits I have I suspect its low working memory or maybe low spatial recognition.
I have been reading up on it.
I have some dream products for working memory but they don't exist.
So I might have to DIY it with some board games.

Thanks
I will look into it