Sayonara Wild Hearts helps kids practice and improve the following skills:

Time Management: Working under pressure. 

Each level of Sayonara Wild Hearts places the player in a world where they cannot pause or stop to consider their movements. This means that the player needs to think quickly and make decisions without a lot of time to consider other alternatives. This can create a sense of pressure because if you do not make decisions quickly, the character will crash or be defeated and the player will need to begin the section again. For players who struggle with working under pressure, this can be frustrating because it can cause them to need to repeat parts of the level over and over. In order to get better at this skill, the player does have the option to replay the level over and over until they get the hang of how the controls of the game work. For players who are truly struggling, the game also gives the option to skip over parts that are too difficult. This option can also be turned off for players who want the challenge of making it through the game without skipping parts. 

Flexibility: Adapting and adjusting to changing conditions and expectations.

Even though the controls of the game are very simple, the player needs to use their flexibility skills to adjust to the constantly changing landscape and expectations of the environment. The player may find themselves moving along a straightforward road in one direction only to find the point of view switched halfway through the level. Sometimes they need to respond quickly to prompts that pop up on the screen and are in time with the music playing. Because of this, players who struggle with flexibility may find disoriented with the constantly changing rules and camera angles. Playing through the first few levels can help acclimate the player to some of the mechanics of the game that can help them in future levels. For players who are truly stuck or are affected by the motion changes, there is the option to skip over parts of the gameplay.