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Age group(s) for which this activity is appropriate:
Preschool and Younger
Elementary School
Middle School
High School & Beyond
Describe the activity:
These activities will help produce "Brain Glue."
You can do this activity as a game and involve several children. Have kids look at something very quickly (a picture, a cereal box, a comic strip) and then hide the object, or have the kids close their eyes and tell you what they saw. Kids can earn points for recalling the most items. You can also do this with sounds. Have the kids get quiet and listen for one minute while you make or play different noises or sounds. Then have them list everything they heard.
When you're in the car, tell your kids you are going to say a list of things (names, letters, numbers, etc.) and then challenge them to repeat what they've heard you say. Having them repeat the list right after you say it provides practice in what's called short-term auditory memory. Having them wait a few minutes or more before they answer makes the task more difficult. Asking them to tell you what they heard even later, before you reach your destination, focuses on long-term auditory memory. Make sure you make the task easy enough for the child who has significant difficulty in this area. You can ask the kids to predict how many things (letters, names of states, action words, numbers, etc.) they think they will be able to recall. This will set up a self-challenge that helps you get away from sibling competition in the back seat. You can also have your kids give you a list of words to recall. Doing the asking helps develop the skill as well, and gives kids a sense of empowerment.
This activity strengthens short-term visual memory. Sit with your child at the computer. Type a series of letters (or symbols). The number of letters depends on your child's age or ability level. Start with an easy sequence, then gradually increase the difficulty. Highlight and delete the series, or press the Backspace key. Then, ask your child to retype the series from memory. If you want, you can also scroll the series out of view so your child can check her work against the model. You can even keep score to chart progress. This is also a good way to help kids remember spelling words.
You can have a great time at the beach by drawing designs, shapes, letters, and numbers in the sand with a stick. Then "smoosh" the sand and ask your child to tell you what he saw, or have him re-draw it. Varying what you ask the child to do (i.e. the output) keeps it more fun. With older kids you can try more abstract concepts, like foreign vocabulary words or math equations.
How about a game of "hide the peanut"? Place the nut (or M&M or raisin) under one of two or three cups and move them around. If your child picks the right cup, then he gets to eat the prize underneath. Don't forget to give your kids a chance to stump you! This taps visual memory, as well as enhancing concentration.
What is the benefit to a child with learning problems?
These activities give kids a chance to practice recall, or remembering things they see or hear. In the fall, they'll be able to do a better job following instructions, or remembering what was on the board after the teacher erases it. Strengthening auditory or visual memory increases your child's chances for success in school and in social situations.
By Jerome J. Schultz, Ph.D.
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