Fun and Free Games to Improve your Memory

Do you have a good memory? If I asked you what your bank account number was or your credit card number would you be able to recall them without looking ??? I have a memory like an elephant (so my husband says, but that's a different story) but the secret really is practise. Take for instance the 16 digit card number across your cash card, the way to remember it with ease is to break it down into 4 lots of 4 digits. Learn the first 4 digits on day 1, then day 2 add the next 4, repeating the first 4 from the day before.

Within 4 days you can remember the whole number. So why is this so important? Well, in examinations you will rely on your memory skills very heavily, so it's paramount you improve and practise as much as possible. Remember learning your times tables?? repetition, almost parrot fashion was the key to cementing the information into your brain cells. This is how our children are taught at school and we can help them as well as ourselves improve our memories by playing games that practise the recall of information. One way of remembering information is to make up a story that connects the items or facts, its also important to involve your emotions. Why do you think we can all remember what we were doing when Kennedy was assasinated or Princess Diana was killed?? Because we felt an emotion when we heard the news and THAT is what the brain can remember.

Anyway, back to the story making. Game 1: Take 10 household objects and place on a table or tray, the first person picks an item eg an orange and says "In the orchard, ripe, juicy oranges were falling from a tree. the second person picks up the tale and another object eg a key and carries on the story " but the gate to the orchard was locked and John had brought the wrong key". person three picks up the tale with the next item a mobile phone " so he called Sally on his mobile phone to see if she could help" and so on until all the objects have been involved in the story. At the end, all the group must recite the whole story without the items in the room.

Game 2: Bling Jigsaw another fun and inexpensive way to give the memory a boost is to get a jigsaw puzzle and complete it first. (Not a 1000 piece one of course)Then take a good look at the picture and break it up. Without using the box you have to complete the jigsaw again this time from memory. Start with easy jigsaws and work your way up. Game 3 "Pairs" you will just need a pack of normal cards for this one. Spread all the cards out face down on the floor or a table and take turns in turning over only 2 cards at once.

If you get 2 of the same numbers you can pair them up and keep them. If not place back down where they were found. Take turns each until all the cards are paired up.

The person with most "pairs" wins.

Liz Jones is a training consultant who works in the financial servies industry, she lives in England and has 2 children. Her website is http://www.lazykidsway.com