Great Games Which Will Develop Memory Skills, 'Retrieval', Creativity And Self Control
By Nili Raviv – developer of the RAVIV Method
Your child is climbing the walls? Blow up balloons!
A big exhale to blow and then letting the air out of the balloon. Again, blow in, then let the air out. Do this six times. Your child's brain will be filled with oxygen that will help him calm down.
You can provide more incentives to blow:
- Blow into plastic bags
- Blowing at soap bubbles – especially for younger children
- Blow out a candle from smaller distances that keep growing, to make the blow harder
- Move colorful pom poms by blowing. (better to use those that are used to clean faces)
Fun on one foot?
These games really calm children down. But – as you play – make sure the child is not sitting, but rather moving, catching a ball or a blown-up balloon, standing on one foot, etc.
Ball games:
Soft sponge balls or juggling balls
It is best to incorporate word games into the ball games.
Word games to help development memory, retrieval, creativity and self control:
Memory game:
I say: I walked in the forest and saw a tiger.
The child continues: I walked in the forest and saw a tiger and a lion.
I say: I walked in the forest and saw a tiger, a lion and a deer….
And see how far you can go and how much we can remember…
We can also do this by category:
Food: I went to the supermarket and bought chocolate…
Countries: I went to the travel agent and bought a ticket to England…
And so on.
Yes, No, Black and White
I ask questions and the child must answer without using the words "yes", "no", "black" and "white".
It is important to change roles every once in a while. This game is great for retrival, impulse control, quick thinking and creative thinking – trying to find different ways to say things.
Defining Groups and Retrieving from Groups
The child is asked to say five kitchen tools. Five countries. Five capitals.
Later, he will have to say which does not belong in a group that we ourselves list.
Here too it is important to change roles.
Word Chains
The child say sa word. I continue with a word that begins with the last letter of his word, and so on.
For example: Ball > Letter > Ring > Girl…
You can also keep the words under a certain category: Elephant > Tiger > Roar…
Balloon Catching
We can blow up balloons and play 'catch'
Or: I hold the ball and throw it into the air every once in a while. The child must run to catch the balloon. It's a great game.
Soap Bubbles:
Blow bubbles into the air and ask the child to count them.
Or: Let the child blow the bubbles back – a great breathing exercise that calms hyperactivity.
Who am I
The child thinks of someone and I ust figure out who it is using 21 questions. The child only answers 'yes' or 'no'.
Or: I think of someone (or something) and the child must figure it out using 21 questions. Then make it harder and ask him to count the number of each question.
Mixed-Up Story
Make up a story. Once in a while, include funny or 'wrong' details and ask the child to 'catch' you and correct you. Then change roles.
Making Up Stories
Once I say a sentence, and once the child does. Try to keep the story funny.
Now make it harder: Add sentences to the story without using a certain letter, for example – "N".
You will discover how difficult and funny it can get.
Keep making up games… remember: the child must play them all whiel catching a ball or a blown-up balloon, or standing on one foot!
And now to relax:
Sit calmly. The body is relaxed. Your eyes are closed. You put both hands, one over the other, over the stomach, softly.
Breathe out while sounding "uhm". The hands softly press the stomach while breathing out, and let go when breathing in, in order to 'tell' the brain the correct breathing direction.
Breathe out all the way so that the stomach is clear of air.
You are only paying attention to your breathing out. The longer your breath, the more the lungs will empty out and the breathing out will be 'deeper'.