Memory Games
Shuffle memory game cards and spread them face down onto a table. Flip over two cards. If the images match, keep the pair and go again. If they don't match, turn them back over and move to the next player. When all cards are taken, the winner holds the most matches. Another quiet game to test your child's recollection skills starts by studying a photograph, painting or table filled with various objects. After removing the studied subject, instruct the players to write down everything they remember seeing within a set time limit. The winner recalls the most correct items.
Concentration Games
Choose a leader to perform various actions or movements, which must then be mimicked by the others. These can become increasingly silly as the game goes on. Anyone who talks, laughs or makes any sound is out of the game. While chess isn't for everyone, children can learn to love the game. Renowned chess player Bobby Fischer started at age 6 and became the youngest U.S. junior and senior champion at the ages of 13 and 14, respectively, according to ChessCorner.com. An easier alternative is Chinese checkers. In this hexagram-shaped game, be the first to move all of your marbles from one end to the other by advancing and jumping over marbles.
Drawing Games
Draw the same shape on a sheet of paper multiple times. Make several photocopies to give to each player, along with crayons. Instruct the players to draw and color in as many things as they can think of that contain that shape. For example, a clown face, chocolate chip cookie and pizza might be drawn on a sheet of circles. Share the drawings after five or more minutes. The winner completes the most drawings of known objects, animals or people using that shape. Fill a sheet with a variety of shapes for another round. A game with no winners begins with a blank sheet of paper. Take turns drawing a shape onto the paper, eventually making a complete, original group drawing. Make copies to color.
Playing Card Games
See who builds the tallest tower of playing cards within a set amount of time. Other ways to declare winners are to use the most cards or have the highest added value of cards within your tower. Aces are worth 11, face cards are worth 10 and jokers are worth 0. There are typically two players in "War," although more is possible. Shuffle the playing cards, and pass them out face down evenly among the players. Each player gathers his deck and flips the top card face up onto the table. The player who lands the highest card value wins the cards. Tied winners do another face off. Play until all cards are used. Have the players shuffle their won cards and play another round. The game winner possesses the most cards after ending play.