family matters c
R A IS IN G K ID S
T H A N K S FO R T H E M EM O RY
Another crucial element of mental acuity
is remembering-being able to bring up
the right detail at the right time.
Memories are formed by association;
linking a fact to an image, a story, or a
physical sensation helps to imprint it in
the mind. That’s why mnemonic phrases
are a more effective strategy for recalling
strings of facts than rote drills-the phrase
provides a context. (For example, a lot of
people remember Roy G. Biv, the
mnemonic used to recall the colors of a
rainbow-red, orange, yellow, green, blue,
indigo, violet.)
Everyday games and activities can flex
your child’s memory muscles. Make your
own matching-pairs card game from a set
of duplicate family photos. Older children
will enjoy video games that require
intense memory skills (the Super Mario
Brothers games are great examples). And
choreographed dancing isn’t just exercise
for the body-learning new steps is a great
way for kids of any age to translate
memory into motion.
N O T FO R K ID S ONLY
One surprising finding is that the
cognitive benefits of games are available
to minds both young and old. Studies
conducted by Canada’s University of
Alberta indicate that regularly engaging
in mental activities like games and
puzzles can slow down or even reverse
age-based declines in cognitive function.
And best of all, it’s never too late to
start-even folks in their
80
s can increase
their concentration, memory, and
alertness with games, be it high-tech
computer games or gin rummy.
Persistence is the key to reaping the
benefits. As children work at mentally
stimulating activities, even for just a few
minutes a day, they start to develop the
habits of mind that will serve them well as
they grow older. The Canadian studies
indicate that curious children develop
into mentally active adults who are more
likely to stave off the cognitive tolls of age.
Get the
Goods
These games help kids build cognitive
skills. All of them are available at mass
merchandisers, toy retailers, or through
the Web sites listed.
1. PIZZA PALACE GAME
The Learning
to Listen Pizza Palace Game ($20; ages
4+), part of Hasbro’s new Noodleboro
line of board games for preschoolers,
teaches listening and m em ory skills.
Players make pizzas to order, in hopes of
earning the title of Master Pizza Maker.
A 24-page storybook and audio CD
make for a full m ultimedia approach.
See it at
n o o d le b o ro .c o m .
2. BRAIN AGE 2
Designed for the
Nintendo DS handheld video game
system, Brain Age (about $20; ages 10+)
was inspired by new research into brain
function. Brain Age challenges players
with simple math problems, scrambled
words, and counting currency. Truly
interactive, the Brain Age (and now the
newer Brain Age 2) software uses the
touch-screen of the DS to allow you to
enter answers with a stylus. Visit
b ra in a g e .c o m
for more.
3. PENTE
The object of the classic
board game Pente ($27; ages 8+) is
simple enough— lay down a row of five
colored stones before your opponent
can do the same. But though it takes just
moments to learn, Pente provides a
serious workout for predictive thinking
and spatial awareness skills. It’s
trem endously addictive, too, for parents
and kids alike. Get Deluxe Pente and
other retro games at
w in n in g -m o ve s.co m .
4. WHERE’S WALDO?
The
bespectacled backpacker Waldo, star
of the
W h e re ’s W a ld o ?
book series, has
been delighting children and adults for
more than 20 years. Kids test their
powers of observation to find the
fam iliar figure in his red-and-white
striped jersey. Martin Handford’s
illustrations, jam -packed with witty
detail, have lost none of their
clarity and charm.
W h e re ’s W a ld o ?
T h e C o m p le t e C o lle c t io n
($45 at
most booksellers; ages 4+) brings
together all six Waldo books in a
handsome slipcase. Play an online
version at
fin d w a ld o .co m .
5. MASTERMIND
Do you
rem em ber this one? If so, it may be
because of the m em ory skills you
learned from it. Mastermind ($18;
ages 8+) involves cracking codes
and guessing the pattern of four
colored pegs. You may not have
realized at the tim e that you were
exercising your memory,
learning to read clues from
context, and making and testing
hypotheses. Mastermind is also
available in a simplified version for
younger children. See
p re s sm a n to y .c o m
for details. o
234 may 2009 Better homes and gardens
PHOTO: RICHARD SWEARINGER
