Each session begins with at least 10 minutes of a Sustained Attention game (Ping Pong). I think this is important to get them centred and to help gradually improve their scores in that basic skill. After that, the kids played some of the same games from last week, including some from the Memory, Problem Solving and Visual Processing sections. I added a link to a safe site full of free, cognitively stimulating games aimed at preschoolers (Boowa & Kwala, from uptoten.com, in the Phonological Skills section) to appeal to children who had trouble reading, and directed a child who had found some of the games too difficult to one based on the traditionally popular Pac Man (Kit ‘n Run, in the Visual Processing section). There are phonetically based reading games on the site under the Processing Skills – Phonological Skills menu, as well (from starfall.com), though we haven’t used them yet (you can, from home).
Letting each child choose their own games from the site gives me a picture of what their strengths are, but I am concerned that it may get a bit unruly and not be workable with a larger group. Compelling them all to do the same game at the same time, for instance in 15 minute blocks, is a possible solution. However, it could leave some kids in the cold if the game is too difficult. On the other hand, if I'm not busy switching games for people I may be able to devote more attention to an individual. This is something I'm working on.
We added the Mirror Game to the wobble board exercise during break. Playing mirror (two kids face each other and one acts as a mirror to the other) helps train mirror neurons in the brain which play a role in empathy and in learning.
Any other thoughts from your own child’s experience please let me know!