Essentially, memory games enhance a preschooler’s ability to retrieve information from their working memory which improves their executive function.
This preschool activity improves brain functions such as attention, concentration and focus. Also, it makes way for critical thinking and helps preschool-aged children begin to pay attention to detail.
Through this memory game, a parent can easily engage the child. Let’s find out how you can perform this simple preschool activity from home.
Age Group
Children in the age group of 2 – 5 years
What do you need?
3 real-items of daily use, for example – pencil, spoon, key, small bottle, tooth brush, any toy, comb. You will also need a big handkerchief/piece of cloth
How to play?
1. Sit facing the child at their level.
2. Now, one by one, place all the 3 items that you have chosen for this activity in front of the child
3. As you place each item, encourage the child to name it. It is important that the items you choose are familiar which the child can easily name. Don’t use an unfamiliar item that the little one cannot identify.
4. Once all the 3 items are placed, cover them using a handkerchief or a piece of cloth.
5. Encourage the child to tell you the names of all the items that are hidden under the cloth from memory (no peeking).
6. You may need to give some support in case the child forgets or is unable to recall an item from memory.
7. After going through the names of all the items, ask the child to close the eyes.
8. While her eyes are closed, remove one item from under the cloth.
9. Now remove the cloth and ask the child to open the eyes and find, “Which one item is missing?”
10. You must help the child recollect the missing item while giving prompts and supporting her all the while.
Now try repeating the activity by hiding a different item each time. Once done with all three try with a different set of three items and play again.
Don’t forget all the items should be familiar to the child!
Variation for 2-3 year olds
Instead of starting with 3 items, begin the memory game with only two. See if the child is able to tell which one of the two is missing. Gradually increase complexity with 3 items.
Variation for 4-5 year olds
After playing this game a number of times, the child would become comfortable with the game and should be able to easily tell what is missing. This is the right time to make the activity more challenging.
The complexity of this memory game can be increased by adding more items. Instead of using 3 familiar items, you may use 4, and the child may be asked to tell which one of the 4 items is missing.
Alternatively, try hiding two items instead of one and ask again, “What’s missing?”
We hope your child enjoys this intriguing game.
How did you and your child do on this activity? Did your child enjoy it? What did she/he say?
Help us improve and tell us more about activities that parents may find helpful. We look forward to your suggestions!
This article is in a series of playful preschool activities that have been published by Team BestOfSchools for preschool-aged children that parents can easily perform at home.
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