The memory game is a game which children really enjoy, especially if you make the objects on the tray interesting. It was definitely one of our favourites as a child, it always made us feel like we were on Generation Game (wow how old do we feel!)
Preparation:
Find a selection of small objects and arrange them on a tray or on the table, which you should keep covered with a tea-towel until you are ready to play the game. Use Christmas objects on your tray – for example, a bauble, a mince pie, a bow, a Christmas card, a candy cane. Vary the number of objects according to the ages of your children. Give each child a pencil and paper and ask them to write their name at the top (or if they are too young you can skip this step and just not write it down).
How to Play:
Uncover the tray and place it where all children can see it. Give the children a certain amount of time to memorize the contents of the tray, then cover it up again.
- Ask the children to write down all of the objects that they can remember.
2. Take the tray away and remove one or two objects. Replace it and ask the children to write down the objects which are missing.
Tips:
One of the objects on the tray could double up as a prize for the winner.
Vary the objects according to the abilities of the children. Older children might be given some smaller objects & more of them . Whereas younger children will remember better if they are given larger, brighter objects.
You can give the children hints on how to remember the objects, such as memorizing their position relative to other objects (“the bauble is next to a candy cane”).
Be aware that some children have much more developed memory skills than others, so don’t be surprised if you have a clear winner and be prepared to award some extra prizes, such as a prize for the neatest list (it is Christmas after all!)
We hope you love playing this as much as we did! & don’t forget to tag us in your advent pictures at #ayearofplayadvent