Designing for Executive Functions: Exploring Design Issues and Preschool-Aged Children’s Characteristics Through Digital Games

A significant amount of literature has been published on Executive Functions (EFs). In recent years, researchers have shown increased interest in game-based EFs training. Designing custom digital games that target the subskills of EFs has been shown to reveal digital game design principles that may help cultivate EFs. This design-based research study aims to investigate digital game features linked to EFs, the connection between game structure and gameplay traits, and the EF-related behaviors of preschool-aged children. Within the scope of the study, three bodily interactive digital games targeting EFs and two e-textile materials accompanying them were designed and developed. Preschool children were recorded on video during the implementations, and their teachers were interviewed to address the research questions of the study. The developed games were found to challenge children to utilize their EF skills. This study reports on children’s performances, generalizable behaviors, and gameplay traits, as well as considerations to be made when designing digital games to foster EFs. Additionally, the study addresses issues related to bodily interaction.