Games that boost your babies memory

In humans, from the first breath of life, the opportunity to think back or to develop memory begins.

A child’s memory capacity isn’t necessarily the size of their memory, but rather What children can do with their memory.

Very young children can recall memories with particular details; however, for memories to become child’s life story and real, they need to develop a sense of self and personal identity, which usually comes after around 1 ½ or 2 years of age.

The early childhood period viz. from birth to 8 years is important in building and acquiring the development of memory.

Memory development not only takes us back to experiences, but it is a complex cognitive ability that is important in several aspects of:

• Thinking and learning

• Language and literacy

• Planning

• Following directions

• Problem-solving

• Reflecting

• Imagining

• The overall ability to form a positive sense of self

Following games can help to boost your child’s memory

Block puzzle/ puzzle game

• Ask your child or a group of children to complete the puzzle and memorise where each piece should go.

• You can play with your child and challenge to complete the puzzle as fast as they can.

Cards

• Place all cards face down.

• Each player (you and your child and their friends) pick two and turns them over so everyone can see the face and where the card is located on the table.

• If they do not match, cards to be put face down again in the same location and the next player takes a turn.

• If they do match, the player keeps the pair.

• As the game continues, everyone sees the images on each card and their location and players can start memorising where the matching cards are on the table.

Chaining

• This is similar to visualisation, but you have to remember several things.

• Suppose you want to buy certain things from the market and need to remember a list of things.

• You can share this list with your child and ask them to remember it.

• Suppose the list contains eggs, bread, milk, etc. You can help your child to learn them 'chain' them together in a funny way.

• E.g., How about "a picture of a dog eating eggs and bread and drinking milk"!

Coin game

• Have a handful of coins, a cloth, a timer or a watch

• Select 5 coins from the pile and place it in a certain sequence. For example, line up two 50 paise coins, a 1 rupee, 2 rupees and 5 rupees coin.

• Ask your child to look at the coins and then cover them with a cloth.

• Ask them to now pick up coins from the pile and arrange them in the same order as what was shown.

• Use the timer to time. If your child completes the sequence in the stipulated time, he/ she wins.

Magic cup game

• Have three paper cups and a coin

• Invert these cups and place them in a line.

• Keep coin under any one of the cups, making sure your child knows which cup it is under.

• Move the cups around for a while, stop and put them back in line. Ask your child which cup the coin is under.