The Effect of Online Training of Competitive Domino and Cup Stacking Games on Mindfulness, Emotion Regulation and Executive Functions of Children

Abstract

Background: Children's behavior inside the home indicates that playing digital games and engaging in social networks are more prevalent than studying and physical activity. Objectives: This study aimed to investigate the effect of online training of dominoes and cup stacking games on the metacognitive processes of children. Methods: Fifty-four fifth and sixth grade students were equally assigned into three groups of cup stacking, domino, and control. Twelve training sessions, 2 sessions per week for 45 minutes, were held online in the experimental groups. The participants filled in the Adolescent and Adult Mindfulness Scale (AAMS), Emotion Regulation for Children and Adolescent (ERQ-CA), and Children's Behavior Rating Inventory of Executive Function Questionnaire (BRIEF) before and after the training protocol. Results: MANCOVA showed that there was no significant difference between the cup stacking and domino groups in mindfulness. Cup stacking group on reappraisal strategy (emotion regulation), and dominoes on attention transfer, emotion control, and strategic planning (executive function) was significantly higher than other. The dominoes game, compared to the control group, had a significant impact on attention, non-judgment (mindfulness), reappraisal (emotion regulation), attention transfer, emotion control, and strategic planning (executive function). The cup stacking game, compared to the control group, had a significant effect on attention, and reappraisal. Conclusions: The findings emphasized the importance of the positive effect of online education, dominoes, and cup stacking games on certain metacognitive processes of children.