The Memory Game - Perfect for Children's Birthday Parties and Bridal or Baby Showers

This is a memory game that is appropriate for baby showers, bridal showers, birthday parties, bachelorette party, or just a simple game to play with children to encourage observation and memory retention skills. It is fun for adults or children. It can even be a family game.

Supplies needed:

A large tray or cookie sheet

A towel or piece of cloth large enough to completely cover the whole surface of the tray or cookie sheet when it is filled with various items

A timer or watch that can time one to three minute intervals

Enough paper and pens or pencils so each person playing the game, can have their own

Items to put on the tray (These vary according to the theme of the party or subject being taught.)

For younger children someone can help write down the items named for each child as they remember them. Another option with smaller children is to make it a group effort. Each child should get turns to say an item on the tray, as they remember them. That way every little one is included in the game and encouraged to participate.

How to Play the Memory Game:

Pick a number of related items according to what event or activity the game is being used for. Pick items that are related to the theme. For instance baby care items for a baby shower, items related to a wedding, newlyweds or a home for a bridal shower, maybe funny racy items for a bachelorette party or things relating to a specific subject you want children to learn about in that particular lesson. The items to be used are totally up to you.

Decide how many items you want to use for the game. (15 to 25 items is a good start.)

Place the items on the tray and cover them with the cloth so no one can see the items before the game begins.

Place the tray on a spot where everyone has an equal chance to see all the items on the tray, once the items are uncovered.

Pass out paper and writing utensils to each participant of the game. Encourage everyone to participate.

Explain the rules of the game before you uncover the items.

Leave the items uncovered for a set amount of time. Tell them how much time they have to look at the items on the tray . Another way to do it would be to hold each item up one by one and say what it is or just each item up one at a time without any description. Sometimes if you play it the second way and put odd items on the tray that they may or may not recognize or have knowledge of, the written descriptions are quite humorous.

When the time is up, cover the items with the cloth again. Again give the players a set amount of time to try and remember every item they saw and write it down. To make it more difficult, have large number of items on the tray and add many odd items to the mix that may not be as easy to remember.

After the allotted time is over, see who remembered the most items that were on the tray. To reinforce it, particularly for children in a learning game, go over each item again. Since children are often tactile learners, perhaps allow them more time to peruse the items at the onset of the game . Allow them to touch and feel the items to help them to remember what they see on the tray.

To involve children more in the game, the game could be repeated allowing a child to help pick the items to be placed on the tray.