8 Different Mind Games For Children To Activate Thinking

1. Memory Match

Matching picture cards is a classic game. In International Schools in Bangalore they relies on memory recall and the winner is the one who remembers where the cards are and have the maximum pairs.

Right from the time, my little girl was two, she was quite familiar with concepts such as animals and their young ones; animals and their homes, and so we started playing memory games. On one side we would place the cards with animal pictures upside down. On the other side pictures of animal homes/ their young ones/ their choice of food cards would be placed upside down. She had to find the right pair remembering the card which she picked on her turn as well as mine. What a fun way to sharpen memory and enhance recall!

This was later extended to other concepts too, like good habits, things that go together, etc. A memory match game is one that can be easily played in preschool too.

2.WHAT’S MISSING?/ Drawing From Memory (Visual/Auditory/Tactile)

Place a number of household items onto a tray (the more items, the more challenging the game so for younger children start with just 3-4 items and increase from there).

Tell your child to have a close look at the items on the tray. Name them together (the more you discuss the items the more likely your child is to remember them so you could ask them what colour or shape each item is or what it is used for).

Cover the items with a towel. Ask your child to close their eyes and as they do so remove one item from under the cloth. Ask them to open their eyes, remove the cloth and tell you what’s missing! Alternatively, In International Schools in Bangalore we ask them to list the items.

This game activates visual memory and is ideal for visual learners. It can be modified for auditory learners where instead of the items being displayed, you name the items/words The learner has to listen attentively and recall as many (in the same order to make it more challenging).

For kinesthetics learners, it can be modified by passing objects (in each one hand) in a circle and feeling each object and subsequently agreeing on a common name and finally recalling and listing all the objects.

3. Solving Puzzles

We the International Schools in Bangalore do a good exercise for the mind as children are engaged in putting together the pieces of a puzzle to form the big picture. Starting from a 4-6 pc puzzle for a Nursery learner moving to an 8-10 & then 10-12 pc puzzle, increase the challenge gradually. Don’t be surprised when one fine day your child has cracked a 30 pc or bigger puzzle.

Apart from picture puzzles, I have personally used puzzles of opposites, homonyms, things that go together etc initially to find the right pair and later as a memory match. Puzzles like What’s next, What’s missing, What’s different provide scope for thinking.

These puzzles can also be made by the teacher and used in class.

4. Bonding Over Board Games:

When my little girl was 4 -6 years, we would spend every afternoon playing board games. I would always be on the watch to add to her collection of educational games. Some of my all time favourites are Candyland, Mastermind, Plot/ Connect 4, Chinese Checkers, Guess Who, Monopoly, Kids on Stage, Colour track, Ludo, Scrabble, Cluedo and many more

Apart from spending quality time with your little one, these games build on life skills like critical thinking and problem solving, logical thinking, creative thinking, analytical skills, listening skills, etc.

For eg when you play Connect Four, it encourages players to plan ahead – looking out for opportunities to connect 4 discs. It also provides an opportunity to detect patterns. It instigates the prediction of the outcome of an alternative move.

While playing Chinese Checkers children learn how to strategize each move to reach your nine counters to the opposite side before any other player does.

Guess who is a game of elimination by description. You need to ask the right questions to be the first one to guess the right character. This can also be played as a classroom game. The children have to use good listening skills and work collaboratively.

Mastermind is a tool to help students develop logic skills, design effective experiments, and discuss scientific reasoning in the classroom or lab.

There are various board games which we have played in class too with variations like tic tac toe of sight words, sight word snakes and ladders, ludo of CVC words etc.

The International Schools in Bangalore will make them to benefits of playing board games are many! However, the top four benefits that I can think of are, increase in analytical thinking, developing and enhancing problem solving abilities, sharpening their memory and above all, learning key life lessons, such as, winning and losing is all part of the game.

5. On The Move Games To Improve Memory

While I’m out in the car or in the park, I find it the perfect time for playing games like I Spy and memory games like names of animals/ flowers/ birds/ ATLAS game for places etc.

Children have to name something which hasn’t been named earlier by any of the others. They also have to repeat what was named earlier adding onto the list. This builds their knowledge as well as memory power.

Tic tac toe is another game that can be played. It helps children apply their logic and develop a strategy at an early age.

As they grow around the age of 6 a classic game which most of us have played in our childhood days, Name, Place, Animal and Thing can be introduced.

In the later years, What’s the good word or Guess the personality in 20 Questions may hold their interest.

6. Rewiring Brains With Brain Games

In International Schools in Bangalore the Brain games improve memory and cognitive function. Classic Brain games that keep the mind active:

Brain-vita, Rubik’s cube, Rubik’s Race, Chess, Lego- blocks, architecture, Tangram, Electro board game- matching countries and flags

7. Stretch Thinking With Word Games

Word games (and puzzles, board games, and the like) grab our attention, get us to make new connections, and give us the chance to think outside of our mind’s box.

Word search, Crossword puzzle, Unscrambling words, Riddles, Scrabble, Boggle, Hangman, Taboo

In International Schools in Bangalore these games activate parts of the brain that deal with language and word finding, which forces the brain to exercise, work and be active.

At school as well, we use most of these to enrich learner-experience.

8. Embracing Technology

There is a plethora of online educational games I believe that technology cannot replace the teacher but can accentuate teaching/ Learning, but, why not save a few memory games and educational games related to the concepts? My pick is Kahoot for quizzes.

In International Schools in Bangalore Preschool, children learn the play way method. It would be ideal to include mind games which make learning enjoyable as well as activate thinking. These can be integrated in the lesson plan.

In class, we use Manipulative like logico piccolo, Fun-thinkers match frame, clever-cube games.

We include activities like Maze chase, finding the odd one out, Spot the difference, treasure/ scavenger hunt, Inter-table quiz.

Things to Remember While Playing Brain Games With Your Child

Children don’t always respond well to brain games. Sometimes, they just want to have fun. Here in International Schools in Bangalore there are few things you need to remember while introducing them to these brain games:

1. Be Patient With Your Child

The child may not understand the game at the first go, or might not like the game immediately. You may let him play another game and slowly introduce the new brain game after a few days.

2. Get More Participants

Sometimes, the number of participants can encourage your child to play a brain game. Create an atmosphere of fun with some lemonade and snacks and you are good to go.

3. Always Participate

At times, you will be tempted to leave your child alone to play a game and do something else. You can let him play alone once in a while, but if you continue doing so, your child might lose interest and do something else without you knowing. Your involvement is required for you to know how much your child is improving. So, ensure you always participate.

Conclusion

Analytical thinking ability is a must-have thing for every person living on the earth to live life to its fullest. Brain games enhance rational thinking capacity and propel kids to imply it in their daily lives. Therefore, Harvest International School prepares children with financial literacy and encourages them for implication in their regular life.

In International Schools in Bangalore Playing brain-boosting games can help your child learn and improve existing skills without really knowing that he is learning. Your little one will become more creative, and he will try to find different ways to solve a problem. By playing these games, your kid will also be able to concentrate better, and you’ll see a significant improvement in his observational and reasoning skills.

As parents, developing your child’s brain is your responsibility. However, if you force your children to do something they don’t like, they may not put effort into it. Just try and make your kid read the newspaper and see what happens! The solution lies in finding games that your child responds well to and getting yourself involved as well.

Parent involvement in Preschool in Hsr Layout the education is crucial for the overall development and success of children.