Download Version two: matching pairs memory game

DIY Christmas memory game
BY CATHY JAMES ON DE CEMBER 4TH, 2013
This DIY Christmas memory game is super simple to make, and you
can use it in a variety of ways, for children of different ages. Here’s
how:
To make our matching memory game, I used some of the stickers
from a tub I bought at the craft shop, but any matching images would
work ~ cut from a magazine, old Christmas cards, wrapping paper…
You just need to have an assortment of matching pairs.
Then cut out some pieces of card and put one sticker or picture on
each one. Make sure all your card pieces are the same size and
colour, otherwise you’ll be able to cheat when you play!
For younger children, you place all the cards face upright and simply
see if you can pick out the matching pairs.
Or give some verbal clues and see if they can use their listening
skills to find the right card. I spy the card that has a stripy picture on
it, I spy the card which has something you can eat on it…
How to play a memory game
With children a little older, you can use the cards to play memory
games
Version one: which card is missing?
Place a selection of cards face upright and have a good look at them
for one minute. Then, have your child close their eyes, while you
remove one of the cards. You might like to jumble all the remaining
cards around a bit, to add an extra challenge, or leave them exactly
where they are.
Your child can now open their eyes and take the memory challenge:
can the remember which card is missing?
Version two: matching pairs memory game
For this matching pairs memory game, spread out all the cards face
down. Each player takes it in turn to flip over two of the cards. If the
cards don’t match, they leave them in the same place, and flip them
back so they are face down again.
If they find a matching pair they get to keep them, and the next
person takes their turn to flip two over. Keep taking turns until all the
matching pairs have been found. The person with the most pairs is
the winner.
What children are learning as they play
These are simple games to set up but they offer lots of learning
potential as you have fun playing.
- children learn the etiquette of playing a game: taking turns,
following rules, being a gracious winner or loser
- there’s lots of language play you can incorporate, especially as you
give clues to describe cards to spot
- matching up pairs from an assortment of images practices the
important skills of classification, spotting patterns and making
connections
- memory games help children develop a good visual memory and to
recall information – important skills for reading and maths