6 reasons parents should introduce memory games to kids.
Memory exercises are one of the most effective ways to help your child’s brain development. Having good memory skills will help them on later in life, especially in school. Introducing your baby early to different sensory experiences will definitely get them started in activating their own minds.
When it comes to playing memory games, parents can take part in them and use them to bond with their children. Yes, you should start at an appropriate level, but playing shouldn’t be boring for you. You can incorporate fun elements into it to further stimulate your child’s senses.
But why should you introduce memory games? Here are some reasons they are important.
Improved concentration and attention span
It can be a little tricky to have kids pay attention or let them focus on one task. Kids are naturally so curious about many things that they can’t sit still because they want to see, watch, feel, and explore so much. One of the key things to remember is that kids like excitement, and the more exciting something is for them, the more likely it is for them to concentrate on it.
Fortunately, memory games can be both stimulating and educational. There are gadgets and smartphone apps that can help, but nothing beats customizable photo books for kids. Remember that old matching game you played as a child?
You can give the same experience to yours by providing them with something personalized to make the memory game more special. You can play with your child, or they can play by themselves or with another person. Memory tiles can be played by having the most matches, so instead of generic picture objects, you can put in pictures of your favorite places, pets, or even persons.
Better visual memory
Since a majority of memory games make use of the eyes, they promote better visual memory. In order to recall things, children are challenged to recall differences, similarities, and generally, notice characteristics about objects or scenes. In short, you can’t remember things if you don’t see it with the help of your eyes.
Classify objects by group
There are many variations of memory games, and some of them involve sorting items into their respective groups. For example, a child is given an assortment of objects, and the goal would be to sort them into different groups according to materials they are made of, by color, by shape, and more. When they play this game, they quickly learn which objects are different and see which ones belong together.
Vocabulary improvement
There are studies that show that there is a connection between memory and vocabulary. This is to say that, if you have a good memory, your vocabulary is likely as good as well. Fortunately, memory improvement can be worked on.
As children get better with memory games, the difficulty level gets higher. With each level, they are introduced to new objects that they need to know in order to progress more.
If you play with your children, you will notice that they will be curious about the new stuff and will turn to you to fill them in on things they have no knowledge about. You can also provide them with resources so they can find out about new things on their own as it will also train them how to do research on their own.
Enhance creativity
When children are exposed to reasoning and problem solving, the better they will be at adapting later in life. When they are presented with information in order to solve something, they will be quick to notice and uncover similarities and patterns. Creative thinking comes in when they are forced to look at something from a new perspective when puzzles become too challenging to solve.
Fostering creativity is important in kids too, apart from teaching them practical life skills. Following instructions is good, but the creatives are the ones who can easily get out of whatever predicament they are in. Just like fundamental learning and educational strategies, you can insert opportunities where children use creative thinking even for the most mundane tasks.
Learn planning and preparedness
The more your child plays memory games, the better they are at using their judgment and enhance their ability to foresee situations. A particular area in the brain becomes more enhanced through this, and this training will be valuable later in life. Being able to plan, to anticipate things, and to prepare for them is one of the most important skills and traits a person can have for life.
The bottom line
There are a lot of benefits when it comes to playing memory games, not only to children but also to everyone. No matter what the age, anything that can exercise the brain is good. With that said, it is best to start playing memory games with your children as early as you can. They learn, and you can use that time to have fun with them as well.
What do you think are the major benefits of memory games in children? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
Author BIO