Memory Improving Games

"Concentration"

• The game "Concentration," also sometimes called "Memory," requires using picture cards flipped upside down in a random order that match a second card. When two cards are flipped, the player must remember which card is in which location. If the cards match, they are removed. If not, they are flipped back down. If one of the two cards is seen again later, at a different location, the player flips the cards over to match up the previously flipped card. For extra amusement, put a time limit on the game to try improving memory recall time.

Jigsaw Puzzles

• Put together a jigsaw puzzle without looking at the picture on the box. This requires concentration and remembering what the image was to help put together the puzzle. It might be hard at first, but it becomes easier to put together the puzzle without looking over time as the memory improves.

"Pandara's Boutique"

• Pandara's Boutique is an online game available through the website of the magazine "Prevention" (see Resources) in which the player enters a store and must notice the items which have a gold tag or are one-of-a-kind. To beat the game, the player must scoop up all of the gold-tagged or one-of-a-kind items within the time limit. This not only improves memory by remembering where items are located, but also improves observation skills.

"Map Making"

• "Map Making" is an online game for training both long and short term memory skills. It works through helping with spatial memory, where the player must put the part of the country in the correct location on the map. For example, a map of the United States might split it up into the 50 different states. Players must look at each state's shape and then put the state into its correct location on the U.S. map.