Executive function training in family card games

Abstract

To assess the effectiveness of a family card game training in improving children's executive function (EF) and compare with those achieved through kindergarten training, children aged 4–5 years were selected. Over a five-week period, children in the family training group (FTG) engaged in card games with parents, while children in the kindergarten training group (KTG) with peers. Children in the active control group (ACG) used encyclopedia cards with parents. During a follow-up period, the decision to continue using cards was left to FTG and ACG and no training session was provided to KTG. The results showed that five-week training demonstrated significant effects on inhibitory control and cognitive flexibility for both group. The effects on inhibitory control persisted at delayed post-test. The effects on overall EF became significant for FTG at delayed post-test, likely due to additional spontaneous training. This research offers implications for fostering preschoolers' EF in family settings.