Visual memory is the ability to remember the visible details of something. For example, we rely on this ability when we recognize our neighbor in town. We also use it when we read and write as we have formed visual memories of letters and sequences to form words and sentences. Visual memory activities help set our kids up for success at school! Some activities can also benefit your youngest kids and enhance their pre-reading skills. Here are 22 visual memory activities to implement in your learning space today!
1. Matching Socks Game
Do you have kids that like helping out with chores around the house? If so, they may just love this memory match game. You can print out these colorful paper socks, mix them up, and then have your kids sort the matching pairs.
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2. Picture Bingo
Picture Bingo can be a fun way for your kids to practice their short-term visual memory skills. Try to avoid saying the name of the pictured items so that your kids don’t rely on their auditory memory to identify the cards.
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3. What Did I Add?
Here’s a picture memory game that will engage visual attention skills. Your kids can take turns drawing in pairs while one of the partners has their eyes closed. Then, the kid who closed their eyes can guess what was added. The difficulty level will increase as the rounds progress.
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4. Remember And Draw
Your kids can study the colorful pictures on the left for some time. Then, they can attempt to recreate the pictures using the blank templates on the right. Can your child’s short-term memory help them recall all of the details?
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5. Draw or Write Memory Challenge
Similar to the last activity, your kids can study the pictures before using their short-term memory skills to redraw them. This worksheet also gives them the option to write the names of the items. Your older kids can try to do both!
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6. Visual Memory Art Activity
First, your kids can try to memorize the simple shapes and lines that are provided. Next, they can attempt to recreate them on a separate page. Then, they will watch the lines and shapes be transformed into animal shapes. They can do the same with their own drawings!
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7. MonDRAWsity
Your kids can get creative with this visual memory game! Each kid will get 20 seconds to study their wacky monster. Then, they will need to describe the monster in detail for the others to draw it. The most accurate drawing wins!
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8. Bonnard-Inspired Breakfast
The next two visual memory activities are inspired by the artist, Pierre Bonnard, who painted everyday scenes using his memory. For this activity, your kids can draw the memory of their morning breakfast.
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9. Bonnard’s Breakfast Memory Game
You can take your kid’s grocery shopping by simply using this memory match game. Each kid can flip a picture card to reveal a grocery or household item. If it matches an item on their shopping list, they can replace the picture on their game board.
10. Drawing Memory Experiment
Can the use of our visual memory enhance our verbal memory? Speak a list of 10 nouns. Wait for a few minutes and then ask your kids to recall the nouns. Next, speak a second list and tell them to draw the words. Afterward, they can try verbally recalling the items again.
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11. Left and Right Memory Card Game
This memory card game can test your kids’ visual-spatial memory skills. After giving them some time to study a set of pictures, you can hide the pictures. Then, ask them about a specific picture’s location. Was it on the left, middle, or right?
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12. Copy Cat Memory Game
This toy can engage a combination of your kids’ auditory and visual memory skills. After turning it on, a sequence of tones paired with colored lights will play. Your kids can then try to press the correct repeated sequence of colors to level up.
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13. Visual Memory Sequencing Game
If you want more advanced visual memory activities, you can try incorporating sequential memory skills. In this activity, at each station, your kids can verbally repeat the random pictured object. They can try to repeat the entire sequence of objects as they progress through the stations.
Learn More: Mosswood Connections
14. The Money Game
Here’s another activity that tests visual sequential memory. Gather coins and arrange them in a sequence (e.g., 1 penny, 3 nickels, and 5 quarters). Your kids can study the arrangement before it is hidden. Can they recreate the correct sequence?
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15. Word Scrambles
For your kids who are learning to write, word scrambles are an effective memory exercise. They will need to apply their long-term visual memory of words to unscramble letters into the proper sequence.
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16. Word Searches
Like word scrambles, word searches can be valuable for engaging the long-term memory of how to spell words and correctly sequence letters. You can find a variety of these printable puzzles online for your kids to try.
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17. Color Memory Game
Online memory games can be a great option for distance learning or after-school practice. This specific color memory game can engage your kids’ sequential memory skills. There are 9 levels for them to attempt recalling different sequences of color patterns.
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18. Where’s Waldo?
I remember spending hours searching for Waldo in these classic picture books. And in fact, all that searching can be great for your kids’ visual skills. Your kids can utilize their visual memory and discrimination skills as they look for Waldo.
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19. Where’s Waldo Matching Puzzle
Here’s a nice alternative to the classic Waldo search. In this printable puzzle, your kids can try matching sets of three identically colored fish. Kiddos will have to use their visual attention skills and visual discrimination skills to find the matches.
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20. Boggle Jr.
Boggle Jr. is a preschool-friendly variation of the classic word-building game. Your kids can practice their letter sequence visual memory skills as they build words that correspond to the pictures. Younger kids who don’t quite have the memory for spelling can try matching the letters.
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21. Match Madness
Who can be the fastest to rearrange the blocks in this memory-matching game? For each round, a pattern card is revealed and everyone must race to rearrange their blocks to create a match. This hands-on activity can engage your kids’ short-term memory and motor skills.
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22. Stare Junior
This exciting board game can really test your older kids’ visual memory power. Your kids get 30 seconds to study a picture card. Then, a dice will be rolled to determine which question they must answer that is related to the details of the picture.
Learn More: Amazon
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