Working memory games for kids
“Put on your shoes, grab your jacket and wait by the door.” To follow a chain like that, your child has to keep three things in mind at once. That is called working memory. Kids use it for math, for reading and for any task with several steps, and for many children with ADHD it is still shaky.
The 7 memory games in this area practice remembering color sequences, symbols, rhythms and instructions. Sometimes your child rebuilds a pattern from memory, sometimes claps a rhythm back or plays “I packed my suitcase”. The games suit children from age 3 and take 3 to 6 minutes.
3 games come with a printable template. The others work with beads or with no materials at all, for example in the car or the waiting room. A game gets harder when you make the sequence longer or show it for less time.
Children's memory can be strengthened through practice. In studies the practiced tasks get better, and whether that carries over to school and everyday life is still open. That is why we see the games as time together, not as therapy.
Source: Diamond & Lee 2011, Science
Which age fits
- Preschool (ages 3 to 4)The youngest kids find it easiest to remember colors and things they can touch. Color Train, Rebuild the Dots and Bead Pattern work with buttons and beads. Start with only a few colors and show the pattern a little longer.
- Kindergarten (age 5)Now words and tasks come in. I Packed My Suitcase and Instruction Chain need no materials at all, and Clap Echo works with rhythms. Many kids this age say out loud what they want to remember, and that is allowed.
- Elementary school (ages 6 to 10)School-age kids can handle longer sequences and several levels. Picture Recall has levels that get harder one after another. Older kids like coming up with their own memory tricks and explaining how they remembered something.
The exercises
- 5Rebuild the DotsLook at a color pattern briefly, then rebuild it from memory.
- 6Picture RecallLook at a sheet full of pictures for a moment, then recall them.
- 17Color TrainFull instructions in the printable packRemember the colors of the train cars and rebuild them on the empty train.
- 25Clap EchoFull instructions in the printable packYou clap a rhythm, your child claps it back exactly.
- 26I Packed My SuitcaseFull instructions in the printable packEach turn repeats the whole list and adds one more item.
- 27Instruction ChainFull instructions in the printable packHear several instructions at once, repeat them, then do them in order.
- 28Bead PatternFull instructions in the printable packLook at a bead pattern briefly, then string it yourself.
Which activity when
| Situation | Matching activities |
|---|---|
| In the car or the waiting room, no materials | I Packed My Suitcase, Clap Echo |
| Quiet time at the table, for example in the afternoon | Color Train, Bead Pattern |
| For kids who lose track when given several instructions | Instruction Chain |
| For kids who like looking closely | Picture Recall, Rebuild the Dots |
| As a game for the whole family | I Packed My Suitcase, Clap Echo |
Frequently asked questions
What is working memory?
The ability to keep a few pieces of information in mind for a short time and work with them, for example an instruction with three steps.
How do I make the games easier?
Use shorter sequences, show them for longer and say the colors out loud. Once it works three times in a row, make it a little harder again.
Do we need a printer for the memory games?
Not for all of them. I Packed My Suitcase, Clap Echo and Instruction Chain need no materials at all, and Bead Pattern only needs beads and a string.
What if my child can hardly remember anything?
Then the task is too long right now. Use fewer items and say them out loud together. If your child's memory worries you a lot in everyday life, talk to your pediatrician.