Building Memory Skills
What's Different?
This a great game to play with a group. My daughter plays it at her preschool and it always gets everyone laughing, adults too! Have everyone sit in a circle. One person is chosen to leave the room (they'll need an adult to help). That person then changes as much as they can about their appearance - the zanier you make it the better. Untuck their ...(read more)
I'm Going to the Beach and...
This is a good memory game for car rides, restaurants, or anywhere that requires you to sit still. One person starts the game by saying, 'I'm going to the beach and I'm going to bring my ....' Fill in the blank with anything you want, 'flip flops' for example. The next person then repeats the first line and adds another item, 'I'm going to the beach and ...(read more)
Our House
Look at your house with your child and discuss what it looks like - the colors, size, house number, etc. Then, while away from your house, ask your child questions about its characteristics. For instance, "What color is our front door?" or "Do we have a tree in our front yard?" or "Is our house on the second story or first story?" Teaching this game can enhance your child's recollection ...(read more)
Photograph Memory Game
A good way to get kids to remember faces and names of relatives is to take pictures of family members. When the film is developed ask for double prints. Use these photos to play the game of memory. Put all pictures face-down, and have your children turn pictures over two at a time, trying to make a pair. As they turn over the pictures, name the ...(read more)
Squirrel at the Picnic
Lay out a blanket and five things that you would take to a picnic -- for example, a basket, napkins, plates, bottle of water, food container. Sit with your child on the blanket and look at the items. Then tell your child to close their eyes and take one item away. Once they open their eyes see if he/she can tell which item was taken by the "squirrel at the ...(read more)
Family Flashcards
This is the grown-up version of the Who Loves Baby book that both my kids adored. Take photos of family and friends who don't live nearby and adhere them to card stock or have them laminated. Then either use them like flashcards or punch a hole in the corner and fasten them together with a ribbon. Either way you choose to do it, you can sit and ...(read more)
That Stinks!
Explore the sense of smell with your preschooler or school-age child. You'll need to gather up some distinctly smelly items, such as pickle juice, cinnamon, baby powder, perfume, vanilla, ginger, cocoa powder,coffee, etc. Shake or spray a little of each on cotton balls (one cotton ball per scent). Then see if your child can guess what each cotton ball smells like.(read more)
Where I Live
All kids should know their address, but sometimes it's hard for little ones to memorize it. Help them by making your address part of a rhyme. Here are some examples: When I see my house I start to holler: 'That's where I live, #57 Waller!'; I do not live in a cave or canyon, I live right here at 33 Stanyan; ...(read more)
Memory Master
Tell your child to stare at a picture in a catalog, a page of their favorite book, the contents of your purse, or even the opposite wall. After 60 seconds, your child should look away and you, as Memory Master, can quiz your child about what he or she has seen. Then you can switch and your child can be the Memory Master and quiz you. Kids really ...(read more)
Story Strip
Use this activity to help build your child's memory skills and story-telling skills. Take simply drawn characters from your preschooler's favorite book (Very Busy Spider or Brown Bear, Brown Bear are good choices) and put them on a strip of accordion-folded paper. You can free-hand, trace, or find clip art on the computer. Each fold should contain the picture of one character. This activity can be done ...(read more)
Homemade Memory Game
No need to have an actual memory game for your little ones to find pairs. Simply gather pairs of things from around your house such as a pair of shoes, a pair of spoons, a pair of hairbrushes. Lay these objects all around the floor & have your little one find the pairs!(read more)
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A Great Book Rhymes!
Kids are a funny bunch. They are often loath to change and anything new. But still, our little ones are open to so much -- and so much more than we more ossified parents are! Think of poetry: preschoolers happily read and repeat poems with ease and
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