Fun Games to Build Memory Skills

Building memory skills is important, whether you’re 5 or 95+. Strong memory skills are critical for functioning well in all areas of life, including relationships, school, work, and your own personal life. Games can be a great tool to build cognitive skills like memory and grow your confidence!

Types of Memory

There are 2 main categories of memory skills: short term (or working) memory and long term memory. Essentially, they are what they sound like. Short term memory is an immediate recall and ability to hold onto information in the moment, while long term memory is your ability to recall information that has previously been stored. Working memory also has a component of cognitive manipulation. It’s your ability to pay attention to the task at hand, manipulate relevant information, and apply it to what you’re doing at the moment. 

It’s important to note that for many individuals with ADHD in particular, weak working and long term memory are actually more profound than attention deficits. Building memory skills is a critical step to making focusing, thinking, and learning easier!

Here are Some Top Games to Build Memory Skills (at Any Age!)

Along with short and long term memory, you also have to factor in both visual and auditory memory. Some people can see something and remember it, while others need to be able to hear it. These games can target both of these areas:

• Crossword Puzzles: While simple, crossword puzzles are great tools for strengthening long term memory and recall. 
• Trivial Pursuit: The ultimate test in long-term memory, Trivial Pursuit forces you to dig down deep into your memory bank to recall facts you don’t even know that you know!
• Ticket to Ride: While more of a strategy than a blatant memory game, Ticket to Ride forces players to strengthen working memory by keeping their tasks in front of them (to build a long railroad connecting US cities). There’s a junior version as well!
• Matching Games: These classic games of visual memory are great for all ages! For younger players or people with low memory skills, you can start with a smaller grid of cards and work your way up to a full size game.
• Number (or Object) String: No materials necessary for this one! Create a list of objects or numbers together. The first person says the first item, the next person repeats what was said before and then adds their own addition, and play continues until someone forgets. This is a great test of auditory memory skills!
• Simon: This handheld game is great for traveling or playing at home. See if you can remember the light pattern the device shows you to build your visual memory skills!]
• Peek & Push: On your turn, choose whether to peek at a card or “push” (slide a row) in order to get a run of cards before your opponents. This game requires some strong memory to remember the cards in play AND their positions as things get shifted around.

Memory Training with LearningRx

Whether for kids or adults, strengthening memory skills is SO important. At LearningRx, our programs target each kind of memory (visual, auditory, long- and short-term) in order to help our clients become more confident in their cognitive abilities. Here are some of the gains past clients have experienced*:

• An average gain from the 35th to 59th percentile in long-term memory skills (all ages)
• An average gain from the 39th to 56th percentile in working memory skills (all ages)

For kids, these gains were 3-4 skill years in a matter of only 24 weeks of training! Results were similar for kids with ADHD, dyslexia, and other learning challenges as they were for individuals who did not report these diagnoses.

For adults, these gains in memory skills were also consistent, even for individuals over age 50. In a research study, the rate of cognitive decline improved in patients with age-related cognitive impairment after LearningRx brain training. fMRI scans showed changes in the brain that correlated with these changes on cognitive test scores as well.

If you’re serious about helping your child or yourself build some memory skills, brain training is the way to go! Click here to get started today.

*These are results of past clients and research studies. You or your child may or may not experience the same outcomes.