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
The exercises
- 8Dot PuzzleLook at a color pattern briefly, then rebuild it from memory.
- 10Memory WallLook at a sheet full of symbols for a moment, then recall them.
- 11Caterpillar ColorsRemember the caterpillar's colors and rebuild them on the empty one.
- 24Clap EchoYou clap a rhythm, your child claps it back exactly.
- 25I Packed My SuitcaseEach turn repeats the whole list and adds one more item.
- 26Instruction ChainHear several instructions at once, repeat them, then do them in order.
- 27Bead PatternLook at a bead pattern briefly, then string it yourself.
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.