If you’ve been following me for a while, you know a bit about working memory and how this element of executive brain function is important to kids’ learning.
Our working memory USES new information by applying it to something we already know.
Researchers in the UK found that working memory is more important than IQ (intelligence quotient) when it comes to how well kids do in school, especially for kids who have learning challenges.
But studies on improving working memory are mixed. There seems to be a consensus that to boost working memory, we have to use more than one of our five senses: sight, touch, and hearing for example.
From personal experience raising two kids and teaching all the grades over a couple of decades here’s what I know:
When I played working memory games with kids consistently, the games seemed to help them relax, and they did better in school. That is, the games took kids’ minds off their anxieties so they could think.
The result of playing working memory games throughout the year seemed particularly evident in my students’ improved test scores.
We did find, however, that the games needed to be played regularly to keep up their academic momentum.
Like most skills, if we practice, we continue to improve—if we don’t, we get rusty.
Sometimes our own kids came up with variations of the games, which was fun. I loved when they started rounds of the games, with us and their friends, because they truly enjoyed the activities.
Try out these games that exercise lots of brain areas and working memory. See which ones your kids like best and SHARE your family favorites in a comment. 😊
5 Games to Boost Working Memory and Reduce Stress
You can play all of these games with two or more players.
- Add a Move: Make a move. All players repeat the move and choose someone to make another move to add. Then do the first two moves and add another one, and so on.
Senses used: sight, touch/movement
2. We Got the Beat: Clap a pattern. Other players repeat the pattern. If you don’t want to be noisy in a public place, play the game using two fingers in your palm, in “stealth mode”.
Senses used: sight, touch/movement, sound
3. Buzz: This is a fun game using multiples. Our family favorite was multiples of 7.
Take turns counting. Each player says the next number. On every multiple of 7 and every number that has a 7 in it, the player says “Buzz”.
This game is great for working memory as well as recognizing number patterns.
Example: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, Buzz, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, Buzz, 15, 16, Buzz, 18, 19, 20, Buzz, 22, . . .
Senses used: hearing, touch if players count on their fingers (totally fair), sight if players write the numbers as people say them.
You can also try using other multiples, such as 6 or 8.
4. Now You See It: You’ve probably played this game at parties, but to be an effective working memory game, we have to use more than one of our senses.
Put several items on a tray. Have kids point to and say the name of each item (Sight, touch/movement, sound). Then remove the tray and see how many items they can remember.
If you have a group of kids or a classroom, this is a great game to play in partners. They can use the stuff in their pencil boxes or stashed in the zipper-pouch in their notebooks.
5. Number Train: This is also a game that works great in partners or a few kids—and this is a great game for kids to play in the car.
Two or more players decide how many numbers they’ll start with—say . . . five.
- Someone writes a random number on a piece of paper (touch/movement) — often in our family, the paper was a grocery receipt that got left in the car. The person who wrote the number says the number out loud. (sight, speaking, hearing)
- The next person adds a number to the list and says both numbers aloud.
- The next player writes another number andsays all three numbers out loud.
- Then another number is added, and the player says all four numbers.
- The player who adds the fifth number says all five numbers.
- Since five was the amount of numbers they decided to remember, the player who wrote the fifth number flips over the paper. Then each player tries to say all five numbers in order.
- If everyone remembers the numbers, they can start another round to see if they can remember six numbers—then seven numbers, and so on.
The challenge is to see how many numbers they can remember until someone “misses” (says the wrong number or says them out of order).
- When someone misses, they start over at five numbers.
This game is fun for all ages. Younger kids just start with easier numbers—older kids try to remember bigger numbers:
5 24 164
3 86 256
9 55 953
2 62 672
7 13 891
After kids play this game a few times the numbers start getting crazy. At any point, kids can start trying to remember numbers in the hundreds and thousands. This usually happens naturally when kids are ready.
You’ll be amazed at the numbers they remember.
The next time your kids reach for an electronic device—especially if they’ve already had two hours of recreational screen time—show them how to play one of the working memory games.
Be sure to let us know which games are your family’s favorites!
Have as much fun as you can. Kids grow up fast.
Best wishes on your parenting journey,
Trish Wilkinson
Parent Coach, coauthor Brain Stages: How to Raise Smart, Confident Kids and Have Fun Doing It, founder Brain Stages Parenting
