7 playful ways to improve your child’s memory

Between all the school activities, school work, and play, children are receiving continuous stimuli from the environment. No wonder, sometimes a child’s memory maxes out and she may draw a blank even at a simple question such as, “What happened in school today”.  Here, we get you 7 tips on how to help boost your children’s memory in a playful way.

1. Use flashcards: Here is a fun memory building game. Use placards with a different shape on each and ask the child to perform a specified action to each shape. For example, when he sees a circle he has to clap his hands, when he sees a triangle, he has to take his right arm to his chest, and when he sees a square he has to raise his hands. This forces the child to try and remember the associated action with the shape leading to building up of working memory.
2. Make journeys playful: When travelling in a car, read out the number plate of the car ahead of you, aloud. Then ask the child to say it backwards. Take turns.
3. Play card games: Simple play cards games like Matching Squares, Memory boosting games, Uno etc also helps improve child’s working memory. There are loads of choices available for you, even online. Older children can be given chess to play which helps boost concentration and memory skills of the child.Word games: Ask the child to think of as many fruits as she can and name them. You can complicate it further by asking her to think of fruits only beginning with a particular alphabet. Or to say the Hindi names of fruits which you say out in English. You can follow the same format for synonyms or antonyms.
4. Word games: Ask the child to think of as many fruits as she can and name them. You can complicate it further by asking her to think of fruits only beginning with a particular alphabet. Or to say the Hindi names of fruits which you say out in English. You can follow the same format for synonyms or antonyms.
5. Memory games: Keep two different objects in a tray eg. a pencil and a pebble. Ask the child to look at the tray and ask him to name the objects. Cover the tray now and she has to try and name the objects again. Keep increasing the number of objects to make the game interesting and challenging.
6. Games in the physical spaces: Play treasure hunt with your child where you hide a toy somewhere and ask him to look for it. Repeat the same spot and the same toy the next day. See if the child can remember, else give her clues. Or when driving back from school, ask the child whether you should turn left or right. Let her focus on memorizing the way back and forth from school.
7. Storytelling is another way to improve working Once the story is over, ask the child small questions about the characters or the narrative.Hopefully, these small fun measures will help you build up your child’s memory.