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Short Memory Games

Short-term memory is used to retain inessential pieces of information for a few seconds or minutes. For example, if you look up and dial a telephone number, you may remember it briefly, but you'll probably forget it in a few minutes. Memory can be compared to a muscle---more exercise makes for a stronger memory. Playing simple games can significantly strengthen the short-term memory.

Auditory Games
- Rhythm Repeat is a game meant to be played with a partner. The first player taps or claps a short rhythm that the second player repeats. Players take turns creating and repeating the rhythm, and the rhythm gets more complicated as skill increases.
  
  Telephone Number Game is played by challenging yourself to remember a new series of numbers, eventually working up to seven numbers at a time. It can be played with a partner, like Rhythm Repeat, and singing the numbers to the tune of a well-known song can make the game more fun and productive.
Visual Games
- Close Your Eyes involves recalling visual details. Look at a picture that's new to you. It could be a drawing, or a photograph taken from a magazine or photo album. Look at the picture for a few seconds or minutes, then close your eyes and try to recall as many details as possible.
  
  Memory matching games are played with cards and can come in many forms. The popular children's card game Old Maid is one example. Cards are laid out face down. Turning over two cards at a time, players try to find sets of matching cards. Matching games can be played alone or with a partner.
Word Games
- Make a game out of remembering the names of new acquaintances. You can use rhymes or alliteration to aid memory. For example, try thinking of a friendly woman as "Friendly Frieda."
  
  Creating acronyms is another word game to strengthen short-term memory. An acronym is a series of letters that combine to produce a simple word to help you remember more detailed information, each letter representing a word. For example, if you want to remember directions to a friend's house, you might create the acronym TROTS to represent Turn-Right-On-Truman-Street.

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