Memory games for kids are a fun way to boost your child’s learning ability. While memory skills ensure academic success, it is only the tip of an iceberg.
According to a , brain training memory games boost executive functions, working memory and processing speed in young adults. Hence making memory training is crucial for kids’ lifelong learning as it is responsible for storing, retrieving and using information.
Memory activities build retention and cognitive skills and are a far cry from boring activities, which children detest and do half-heartedly.
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5. Which Age Can Children Play Memory Games
There are loads of memory games for kids you can try with your little one. From online memory games to matching games for toddlers and memory card games for kids, there are a lot fun options available.
These memory games are available in various forms, including online, printable, and even as mobile applications. Furthermore, many memory games for kids are available for free. You can even create free memory games at home using some household items!
Memory Games for Kids
You can create fun memory games at home using simple printables or household items like keys, coins, colours, marbles, or your child’s favourite toys, etc.
1. The Card Game
This is a popular and classic memory game for toddlers, preschoolers and kindergarteners that can be played with a deck of cards or by making your own cards using pictures or illustrations.
This card game is designed to improve children’s working memory and concentration skills. It’s a flexible and versatile game where the rules can be modified according to the child’s age.
For instance, if playing with toddlers, the winning rule could be to match cards according to colours. In case you have a preschooler or a kindergartener, you can change the rule to matching card ranks instead of colour.
How to Play?
· Gather a deck of cards or make your own cards with simple illustrations or pictures.
· Lay out ten cards face down on a table and have the child turn over one card at a time and try to find its matching pair.
· Once the child has found a pair, they can remove the cards from the table.
· The game continues until all pairs have been found.
To turn it into a memory game for kindergarten, increase the number of cards and make it into a competitive two (or more) player game where players take turns flipping the cards. The player with the most pairs wins the game.
This is a simple and easy to play memory game for kids who are just starting their memory training and building their memory skills.
Related: Learn all about developing kid’s memory skills to make the best use of these fun games.
2. What Am I missing?
This is another memory training game for kids that is super easy and fun to play with. Perfect for toddlers to older kids, it uses common household objects and play things to build short term memory skills.
How to Play:
Collect a variety of small objects, such as keys, coins, or small toys, and lay them out on a tray. Allow your child to memorise the items for a minute before covering the tray and have them recall as many items as they can remember.
You can make it more challenging, as per the age of your child, by increasing the number of objects or/and decreasing the time given to memorise the items.
3. The Memory Story Game
This kids’ memory game involves listening to a short story, and then recalling its details. It is a fun memory exercise for school that doubles up as an exciting family night game.
How to Play:
· Narrate a story or have your kids listen to a story podcast.
· After the story is finished, have children repeat the story in their own words without missing any details or ask them questions about the story like “What was the main character’s name?” or “What was the moral of the story?”
It is one of the best memory games for toddlers to improve their memory, recall and listening skills. Besides, it also aids their vocabulary, language and comprehension skills.
4. The Memory Word Chain
The Memory Word Chain is a memory game that involves recalling a list of words and connecting them to form a word chain.
How to Play:
· Have the players sit in a circle.
· Pick a theme and have the first player come up with a word matching the theme. Next players then repeat the words by the earlier players and a new word to form a word chain.
· The game continues and players who miss the correct sequence get eliminated until there is one winner.
This is a great memory game for groups, classroom and family.
5. The Magic Cup game
This memory game for kids works like a charm to build short-term memory and concentration skills. To play this game, you will need a set of cups, and a few small objects such as balls, buttons, or marbles.
How to Play:
· Place three cups on the table and hide an object under one cup.
· Allow the child to study the arrangement for a short period of time — 15 to 20 seconds.
· Now, mix up the cups and let your child figure out which cup has the object hidden under it.
· Let your child lift the cups to see if she remembered correctly.
Once your child has airspeed on the game, make it more challenging by adding more cups and different objects under different cups.
6. Picture Bingo memory game
Picture Bingo memory game clubs bingo with the classic memory card game. This exciting, competitive memory game for kids is the perfect way to entertain kids while indulging in memory training.
How To Play:
· Give a bingo board to each player and lay out matching bingo cards, face down on a table.
· Players take turns to pick a card. If the bingo card has a match on the player’s bingo board, the player gets to keep the card and draws another card. If there is no match, the player must keep it back.
· The game continues and the first player to match all the images on his/her bingo board wins the game.
7. Number Chain
This is similar to Memory word chain, except in this game numbers are used to form a chain instead of words. It is a great memory game for preschoolers and kindergarteners who are learning their numbers.
Play this game to help your kids memorise your phone number or learn odd/ even numbers.
Quick Tip: Build numeracy skills through play with these Fun Math Games for Kids.
8. Coin Match
This fun memory game for preschoolers and kindergarteners doubles up as a hands-on math game.
Arrange six coins in a pattern of head and tails. Let your child study the pattern for 20 seconds before removing it and handing the coins to your kid to replicate the pattern.
9. DIY Music Memory Gam
Get creative and make a musical pattern using claps and snaps. Start with a smaller pattern and challenge your child to repeat it. Progress to longer patterns as your kiddo warms up to this musical memory game.
Related: Aid your child’s growth with these Musical Games for Kids.
10. DIY Memory Games
DIY memory games are super easy to make and have a tonne of variations to play with, depending on the age.
These printable matching memory games are a cost-effective alternative to store bought memory games, as they can be printed at home or simply drawn on card stock. All you need to do is place the cards face down for a fun memory training session.
Here are some good DIY memory matching game ideas :
Picture Memory Game
This memory game for toddlers and preschoolers is a fun way to teach kids about shapes, letters in uppercase and lowercase, & animals. Draw shapes or animals on cards to make this easy DIY memory card game.
Download Free Matching Game Cards
Or you can print our free memory matching template. You will need to print two copies of the chosen template to play the matching game.
Word Memory Game:
This memory game for kindergarten and older kids is great at building vocabulary. Print two set of cards — one with words and the other with their meaning. Mix them up and play them face down for a fun memory game.
Number Memory Game
In this memory game for grade 1 students, match numbers to their corresponding number names. It is an easy to make memory game for classroom that gamifies learning.
Online Memory Games
No-download free online memory games for kids are another great option to boost memory skills. They can be played on computers, tablets and smartphones, making them accessible to all children, regardless of location.
Furthermore, these interactive memory games for kids also make a fun travel game to keep kids busy on a long journey.
11. Drum Beats
This is a fun and interactive free memory game for kids of all ages that works at improving memory, concentration and pattern recognition skills.
It features a virtual drum set and players must repeat a pattern of drum beats played by the computer. The pattern starts with a few beats and gradually increases in length and complexity as the player progresses.
12. Memory Match Adventure
This is an online version of the classic matching memory game for kids. It has different levels of difficulty, making it suitable for kids across ages and skill levels.
13. Magic Show
Magic show is a free online memory game that is sure to captivate children’s attention. The challenge is to find the hat under which the rabbit is hiding. But with constant shelling of the hats, it takes more than a lucky guess!
14. Blink
This is a super fun online memory game for kids as well as adults. The challenge is to remember the pattern of the blinking dots and repeat it as asked.
Memory Board Games For Kids
Unlock the power of play with memory board games for kids. From matching illustrations to replicating patterns, this collection features fun board games that will boost cognitive development and improve memory retention in children.
12. Life on Earth Memory Game
This Oppenheim Platinum Best Toy Award winner is a wonderful memory matching game for preschool that will help your little ones learn and appreciate Earth’s vast flora and fauna.
Related: Also check out our List of Best STEM Games for Kids to boost learning.
13. Zingo
Zingo is a multi-award winning game that reinforces counting, matching, and strategic thinking skills! This memory board game is apt for kids four years and above.
14. Snap-n-Learn Alphabet Alligators
An educational matching game for toddlers and preschoolers, it reinforces essential alphabet, phonics skills and gamify learning letters.
15. Simon Micro Series
This memory game for grade 4 and above is surely a delight to play. Fast-paced and exciting, it challenges players to replicate the pattern of flashing lights on the console.
Why Are Memory Games Crucial For Children’s Brain Development?
Memory games for kids offer a variety of benefits, including:
1. Enhanced Cognitive Skills
Memorising games help to improve attention, concentration, and memory recall, which are important cognitive skills that children will use throughout their lives.
2.Better Brain Plasticity
Memory improvement games can help to increase the brain’s plasticity, which is the ability of the brain to change and adapt. This can help to improve learning and memory abilities.
3. Boosting Problem Solving
Memorisation games often require players to think critically and solve problems, which can help to develop problem-solving skills.
Related: Check out fun ways to Teach Problem Solving to Kids.
4.Stronger Vocabulary
Many interactive memory games include words and concepts that are new to children, which can help to build their vocabulary.
5.Improved Memory Retention
Focus games for kids can help to improve memory retention by challenging players to remember patterns, images, and sequences.
6.Fostering Self-Confidence
As children successfully complete simple memory games, they may feel a sense of accomplishment, which can increase their self-confidence and motivate them to challenge their memory skills better.
7.Building Better Family Bonding
Memory games are a great way to spend quality time with children and bond with them while they have fun.
What Age Can Children Play Memory Games At?
Memory games can be appropriate for children of all ages, but the level of difficulty should be adjusted based on the child’s age and cognitive development.
For very young children (2 to 4 years), simple matching games with large, colourful images or shapes are appropriate. As children grow older and their cognitive skills develop, they can progress to more challenging memory games such as matching words, numbers, or patterns.
It’s important to remember that children’s memory skills develop at different rates, thus it is essential to choose memory games that are appropriate for their individual abilities and interests.
Final Thoughts
It’s important to note that memory games for kids should be seen as a complement to a healthy and well-rounded lifestyle, which includes a balanced diet, regular exercise, adequate sleep, and positive social interactions.
These games can be a fun and interactive way to boost cognitive development, but they shouldn’t be the only way.
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Originally published at https://kidpillar.com on January 30, 2023.
