Short games that train “braking”, memory and attention, plus what parents do with every instruction. Pick an age and tick off what you did each day; progress and counters are saved in this browser.
“Stop and wait” games and games with changing rules do help a little. Claims from some sites about “activating the brain” or “connecting the hemispheres” have no scientific support. What changes behaviour most in childhood is how we talk to children and reinforce them day to day, so this plan combines both. If the restlessness is strong at home and away from home, it’s worth talking to your child’s doctor (details in “Does it work?”).
Each age keeps its own progress in this browser (nothing is sent to a server), so you can track two siblings separately. Every Monday the week resets and the previous week is added to the counters.
On a very restless or tired day, do only the calm game and special time. Consistency matters more than length.
This isn’t a separate exercise; it’s how you talk to your child all day. It’s the part with the most evidence, especially for very restless young children.
Sleep, screens and movement: Canadian 24-Hour Movement Guidelines (ages 0–4) and (ages 5–17).
Before age 3, change is so fast that half a year makes a difference. The CDC milestone checklists go every 6 months until age 3 (2 years, 30 months) and then yearly (3, 4, 5). For example, following 2-step instructions appears on the 30-month list, not the 2-year one.
From age 3 on, half-year steps aren’t needed. Harvard’s activities guide uses even wider bands (3–5, 5–7 and 7–12 years), so here there is one plan per year up to 10. If your child is ahead or behind, use the age that fits best: the best game is a little hard, but not too hard.
Sources: CDC, milestones at 30 months · CDC, all ages · Harvard Center on the Developing Child, activities guide by age.
Sites like Leaply or Brain Balance sell daily “brain activation” routines with cross-body movements, balance and attention games. Here is how that compares with the evidence:
Some games in the plan come from schools and traditions in Japan, China and Korea. They are mixed into each age’s week (look for the “Inspired by…” label or the “From around the world” filter). Here is what is known about each one:
Full guide: games inspired by Japan, China and Korea →
These are games “inspired by” these traditions, not martial arts classes: slow moves, no kicks or hits, and always with an adult.
Sources for this table: Baduanjin and response inhibition in children with ADHD: randomized trial (Research in Developmental Disabilities, 2026) · Tai Chi-based mindful movement for children with ADHD (Kennedy Krieger / J Dev Behav Pediatr, 2020) · Diamond, Activities and programs that improve children’s executive functions (2012) · Ng-Knight et al., Does Taekwondo improve children’s self-regulation? (Developmental Psychology, 2022) · START self-regulation in Japanese kindergartens (Early Childhood Education Journal) · Cleaning as part of TOKKATSU (University of Tokyo, 2016) · Mental abacus: 3-year randomized trial (Barner et al., Child Development, 2016) · Aerobic exercise and executive function in children with ADHD: meta-analysis (Frontiers in Psychology, 2024)
General signs to raise with your child’s doctor:
In Canada, your family doctor can refer you to a developmental paediatrician and point you to parenting programs (for example Triple P, Incredible Years or PCIT). Without a diagnosis this plan still helps; with one, it’s exactly what you’ll be asked to do at home.
I’m not a doctor. This page is general guidance and doesn’t replace a professional assessment.