Research suggests that the effectiveness of games depends on the skills they stimulate. In other words, if a game trains a certain skill, improvements may be limited to that context. In the case of action video games, which are characterised by stimulus-rich environments, promise has been shown in enhancing attention control and working memory. However, further studies are needed to fully understand their benefits on executive attention.
However, research on games already offers us two key lessons: first, to optimise working memory and attention control, it is essential to expose children to situations that are differentiated but at the same time sufficiently similar. This is to enable them to apply the knowledge acquired in one context to others as well. The second lesson emphasises instead that all engaging activities already naturally require effective attention control, such as listening to someone read a picture book, or doing a physical activity that incorporates rules, such as martial arts, or learning to play a musical instrument. These activities, combined with small tricks and strategies to improve one's working memory, contribute to a comprehensive approach to cognitive development.