Hobbies And Interests
Customized Memory Cards
Create your own memory game with personalized images. Cut chipboard into 20 2 inch-by-2 inch squares. Print out two copies of 10 images that are the same size. Glue the images onto one side of the chipboard. Another option is writing letters on the chipboard instead of images. You will need 26 pairs if you decide to do this. Once the cards are complete, flip them face down on the floor. Take turns flipping two cards over at once. If a player flips over a match she can keep the match and go again. If she does not find a match it is the next player's turn. Once all the cards have been matched, the person with the most matches wins.
Memorize the Objects
Place 10 objects on a table in front of children. A hammer, thimble, toy car, necklace, sock, fork, shell, small stuffed animal, tape measure and hairbrush are examples of items you can use. Let the kids look at the items for one minute. Cover the items with a blanket. Reach under the blanket and move the items around. Remove an item and add another item. Take the blanket off the group of items. Ask the children if there is anything missing. Ask them what is different. The kids have to remember the items in order to know what has changed. Continue remove and add items. Sometimes you may just move the items around without removing any to see if they remember correctly.
Spoken Memory
Have children sit in a circle. Say a word such as "duck." The next child has to say the "duck" and add a word that reminds them of "duck," such as "feather." The next child must repeat both words and add a new word related to the last word. They may say "duck, feather, hat." The fourth child must add another word to the end of the sequence. As the children say the words they remembered from the sequence, write down the words so they can't see them. Continue going around the circle adding words. Once a child forgets a word they are out. Play until there is only one child left.