Playing to Focus: A Systematic Review of Reveal-and-React Board and Card Games for Executive Function Development in Children
Analog board and card games featuring reveal-and-react mechanics, characterized by immediate player responses to newly disclosed game elements, have emerged as promising tools for enhancing executive functions (EF), attention, memory, and problem-solving skills in children. This systematic review s...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | Indonesian |
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Kuras Institute
2025-07-01
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| Series: | Bulletin of Counseling and Psychotherapy |
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| Online Access: | https://journal.kurasinstitute.com/index.php/bocp/article/view/1524 |
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| author | Prisyafandiafif Charifa Ima Apriliani |
| author_facet | Prisyafandiafif Charifa Ima Apriliani |
| author_sort | Prisyafandiafif Charifa |
| collection | DOAJ |
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Analog board and card games featuring reveal-and-react mechanics, characterized by immediate player responses to newly disclosed game elements, have emerged as promising tools for enhancing executive functions (EF), attention, memory, and problem-solving skills in children. This systematic review synthesizes findings from 13 studies, assessing the cognitive impact of reveal-and-react gameplay in participants aged 3–18, with particular emphasis on children aged ≤12 years. Results consistently indicate improvements across core EF domains such as inhibitory control, cognitive flexibility, and working memory. Notable games identified include Ghost Blitz, Dobble, Bee Alert, and Speed Cups, which provide structured yet engaging environments for cognitive training. The review underscores reveal-and-react mechanics as potent catalysts for developing rapid decision-making, attention control, and working memory updating. Moreover, these games hold significant educational and clinical potential, offering scalable, cost-effective interventions adaptable across diverse settings, including classrooms and therapeutic contexts. Despite limitations in study heterogeneity and longitudinal data scarcity, the collective evidence supports integrating these games into child-focused cognitive enhancement programs.
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| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-59d65d68d46c47e5b3d8e69f551b28ce |
| institution | Matheson Library |
| issn | 2656-1050 |
| language | Indonesian |
| publishDate | 2025-07-01 |
| publisher | Kuras Institute |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Bulletin of Counseling and Psychotherapy |
| spelling | doaj-art-59d65d68d46c47e5b3d8e69f551b28ce2025-07-22T02:21:02ZindKuras InstituteBulletin of Counseling and Psychotherapy2656-10502025-07-017210.51214/002025071524000Playing to Focus: A Systematic Review of Reveal-and-React Board and Card Games for Executive Function Development in ChildrenPrisyafandiafif Charifa0Ima Apriliani1Anomali Lab, IndonesiaUniversitas Indonesia, Indonesia Analog board and card games featuring reveal-and-react mechanics, characterized by immediate player responses to newly disclosed game elements, have emerged as promising tools for enhancing executive functions (EF), attention, memory, and problem-solving skills in children. This systematic review synthesizes findings from 13 studies, assessing the cognitive impact of reveal-and-react gameplay in participants aged 3–18, with particular emphasis on children aged ≤12 years. Results consistently indicate improvements across core EF domains such as inhibitory control, cognitive flexibility, and working memory. Notable games identified include Ghost Blitz, Dobble, Bee Alert, and Speed Cups, which provide structured yet engaging environments for cognitive training. The review underscores reveal-and-react mechanics as potent catalysts for developing rapid decision-making, attention control, and working memory updating. Moreover, these games hold significant educational and clinical potential, offering scalable, cost-effective interventions adaptable across diverse settings, including classrooms and therapeutic contexts. Despite limitations in study heterogeneity and longitudinal data scarcity, the collective evidence supports integrating these games into child-focused cognitive enhancement programs. https://journal.kurasinstitute.com/index.php/bocp/article/view/1524Executive FunctionsAnalog Board GamesCognitive FlexibilityInhibitory ControlWorking Memory |
| spellingShingle | Prisyafandiafif Charifa Ima Apriliani Playing to Focus: A Systematic Review of Reveal-and-React Board and Card Games for Executive Function Development in Children Bulletin of Counseling and Psychotherapy Executive Functions Analog Board Games Cognitive Flexibility Inhibitory Control Working Memory |
| title | Playing to Focus: A Systematic Review of Reveal-and-React Board and Card Games for Executive Function Development in Children |
| title_full | Playing to Focus: A Systematic Review of Reveal-and-React Board and Card Games for Executive Function Development in Children |
| title_fullStr | Playing to Focus: A Systematic Review of Reveal-and-React Board and Card Games for Executive Function Development in Children |
| title_full_unstemmed | Playing to Focus: A Systematic Review of Reveal-and-React Board and Card Games for Executive Function Development in Children |
| title_short | Playing to Focus: A Systematic Review of Reveal-and-React Board and Card Games for Executive Function Development in Children |
| title_sort | playing to focus a systematic review of reveal and react board and card games for executive function development in children |
| topic | Executive Functions Analog Board Games Cognitive Flexibility Inhibitory Control Working Memory |
| url | https://journal.kurasinstitute.com/index.php/bocp/article/view/1524 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT prisyafandiafifcharifa playingtofocusasystematicreviewofrevealandreactboardandcardgamesforexecutivefunctiondevelopmentinchildren AT imaapriliani playingtofocusasystematicreviewofrevealandreactboardandcardgamesforexecutivefunctiondevelopmentinchildren |