You could try showing your older child the items for a minute. Your young child will cope better with fewer objects, because this gives your child a better chance of success. Adapting memory games for children of different ages or children with diverse abilitiesĪdjust the number of objects on the tray for older and younger children. You and your child can also take turns to be the ‘rememberer’.

You could use the same items, or replace them with new items. This time your child can time you, and see how many items you can remember.

Count how many items your child remembered.

Uncover the items again and let your child see which ones they remembered and which ones they forgot.

Ask your child to name the items or write them down if they can.

When the time is up, cover the items with a cloth.

When your child is ready, remove the cloth and give your child one minute to look at the tray and memorise the items.

You can adjust the time to be longer or shorter – just do what works best for you and your child.

Spread the objects out on the tray and cover them with the cloth.

How to play this memory game with your child It’s better if you choose plenty of different things for the tray – for example, a teaspoon, a small toy, a leaf, a packet of tissues, a ring, a coin, a plastic animal, a pair of glasses and so on.

something to time with, like a watch or your phone.

a cloth to cover the tray, like a small towel.

a collection of small objects that will fit on the tray.

a tray, like a baking tray or serving tray.

You can play this game with things you already have at home. It’s rewarding and can be a little bit frustrating, which encourages your child to try again. When you reveal the objects at the end of the round, your child gets instant feedback on how they’re remembering. In this memory game, your child tries to remember objects you’ve hidden under a cloth.

give children the chance to try new things without fear of failure.

build children’s thinking skills, concentration and attention span.

Memory games for kids are fun and challenging.

Memory card game