Short Term Memory Games

Short-term memory can also be called working memory as it helps us store events, people, and basically our everyday life's moments. It is called short term memory because the incidents and/or events are stored for a short period of time and they test our intelligence. You'd be surprised to learn that at one point, our short term memory helps us in remembering about 7, plus or minus 2, events or information. Although we can't control incidents and can't refrain from taking more information in. And when our brain begins to collect more than 7 events, items, or information to store, many times, some of this information can get lost or misplaced. Which is why, exercising our memory is very important. And that's what we are here to discuss - memory improvement games for kids and adults. These games will help you enhance your mental powers in turn, strengthening your memory.

Games for Kids

Since kids' brains are developing at this stage, this is the perfect time to include these games for them. There are different subjects in school that kids have to learn and this can put a lot of stress on their little minds. Which is why, playing such games with them will not only excite them but also exercise their memory properly. And, when they begin to learn and get better at the games, get them some fun prizes so they are motivated.

Make a Story - This is a fun game that many of us used to play as kids. Do you remember how to play this? No? We can help out. Gather the kids around and explain to them that they need to make a story on their own. The first kid will begin as he frames the first sentence. The second kid repeats that first line and adds another line of his/her own. The third kid repeats the 2 lines and adds another one. The fourth kid repeats all the 3 lines and adds another line. When it's the first kid's turn again, ask him/her to repeat all the lines to finish the game. Keep making new stories and have fun playing this game.

Jigsaw Puzzles - Kids love jigsaw puzzles and you can use this game to their advantage. How? Well what you need to do is have the kids examine the jigsaw puzzle and have them study what the final picture should look like. Now blindfold them and ask them to put all the pieces together. Bring different kinds of jigsaw puzzles as the more they play this game, the better they will get at it and improve their short term memory. Plus, this game challenges them and increases their concentration level.

Games for Adults

Age can be a depressing thought when it keeps increasing. And when you begin to forget small things, it can definitely bring in frustration. It's common that some people begin to forget or can't remember certain things like grocery items, washing the car at a particular time, lock the door before leaving the home, forgetting why you went in the kitchen or bedroom for, keeping some item at a particular place and then forgetting where it is, and/or forgetting someone's name you just met. Which is why, playing these memory games for adults is important.

Flashcards - What you need to do is ask your friend, wife/husband, girlfriend/boyfriend to make flashcards with 3 to 4 letters written on them; make at least 10 flashcards. Now you need to be ready with a pen and paper and ask your friend (or whoever made the flashcards for you) to show 2 or 3 flashcards one by one. Hold the cards for about 5 seconds in front of you and then you get the chance to write down the letters. After all the flashcards are finished, review the results. You can also have versions to this game like using pictures and trying to remember the number of people in it or the colors.

Spell Right - This game is simple. Do you know what homophones are? You have to guess words that sound the same but are spelled differently. The pronunciation has to be similar as well or else they are not included in this game. Some examples of homophones are die and dye, ice cream and I scream, aloud and allowed, genes and jeans, mustard and mustered, marshal and martial, dual and duel, aye and eye, band and banned, fourth and forth, or bold and bowled. It's a fun game and you will learn new words as well.

Apart from the above mentioned short term memory games for kids and adults, you can also play some card games to help improve your memory. Get a deck of cards and place them face down in front of you. All you have to do is match 2 cards with one another and make pairs. These games are not just entertaining but also help in developing your memory power. So don't avoid playing these games just because you think you have good memory. You never know when and how these games can help you in the future.