Cheap Working memory tools, games and ideas

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A lot of the software games are super expensive for something that might be infective
I did spend 2.99 on a hocus focus ipad app but while my kid loves games it wasn't interested with exception of
one cute monster so I doubt I'd by the over $100 version



Any board games, video games, books, card games that are less than $12.99 a piece or even free
would appeal to a girl as well as a boy
I can buy ipad apps
Android apps free is best because my kids android is not hooked up to a payment account

Most board and card games have a working memory component. I'm kind of a board game fanatic so I can think of quite a few, if you are more specific about interests and stuff like that. What is the age group?

Even a simple game like "go fish" requires players to remember who asked for what, as well as remember the rules. "Happy Families" is another card game that is good for this. Actually almost every card game is good for this. Board games: Matching pairs is another very simple game that can help with working memory- the players have the remember which cards have been turned over and what they were. If you are looking for a non-competitive version of matching pairs, there's a great game called "Secret Door" which is a twist on that game, and will also help with working memory. "Clue" is a more complex game which also depends on working memory. "Labyrinth" is another great game which is a little more complex and very good for working memory.

There are some verbal games you can play which require working memory too.
-Shopping cart game: The first player says "I went shopping and I bought an apple", then the next person adds to it: "I went shopping and I bought an apple and a carton of milk", then the next person adds, "I went shopping and I bought an apple, carton of milk, and granola bars"…and the game goes on.

-Twenty questions: You think of a noun and then the other person has to guess in 20 yes/no questions. Good for working memory because the guesser has to remember all the questions they asked already and the answers to avoid overlap and waste of questions.

-Fizz Buzz: This is a math game and can be altered. Usually played with multiplication- for example "fizz" represents multiples of 3, "buzz" represents multiples of 4. Each person says one number counting by ones.
E.g. 1, 2, fizz, buzz, 5, fizz, 7, buzz, fizz, 10, 11, fizz buzz, 13…. (you get the picture). This is good for working memory because you have to remember several short-term things at once. (It's also good for teaching math).

An aspect of working memory is making connections. One game that can help with that is the game where you say words which are connected.
E.g. Person 1: Apple
Person 2: Fire engine (red like an apple)
Person 3: Fire extinguisher (related to fire)
Person 4: Hook (attached to a wall like a fire extinguisher)
Person 5: Coats (hung on hook)
Person 6: Winter (you wear a coat)
Etc.

ETA: I wanted to add "Enchanted Forest" as a good board game for working memory. But the board games are probably over $12.99 to be honest, I included them because I personally think they are worth it, but to be fair, they probably will be more expensive than 12.99. You can get cards for less than that though.

thank you
I was planning on buying a rather expensive working memory system but checked the reviews and they weren't so great. For the same price or less I could get a couple of games that would at least be fun.

The enchanted Forrest game sounds wonderful even if it goes over and it looks reasonably priced for the type of game it is.
I tried go fish a while back didn't work maybe I shall try again over the summer
we do have Clue and sometimes play 20 questions so maybe we can do that.

I just got an app called: "clockwork brain" for my kid who has working memory/focus/processing issues. I can't remember if it was free, or like $2.99. If you type in "working memory brain games" in the App Store, a whole bunch of free stuff comes up, which you can delete if your kid does not like it.

I think any board game or card game that requires you to manage several pieces of information simultaneously would work. Any card game (gin, spades, etc.) would help.

Fitzi
Thank you so much I will download the free version and consider the pay version if my child likes it.
It looks interesting most of the working memory programs I find just don't look fun. I have been using a lot of match three games, like cupcake mania.
I am thinking of buying some more board games and a card games.
Working memory and attention is very poor.
ADHD meds don't work. I feel if I could get these two issues that I can help my amazing child reach potential.

Fitzi
Sadly the free version keeps kicking me off.

That sucks.

Do you know the game, I think it's called "Papa's Pizzeria"? You can find free versions of it online to play on the computer on kid's math game sites. They have several of the Papa's games. In the game, you are working in a restaurant and you have to remember people's orders (which get more and more complex), and you have to assemble their order in the right sequence in a certain amount of time. My kid plays it on a site called "cool math games." This sort of game would be very good for working memory, and is fun.

My older son has ADD/ ADHD combined type (plus a learning disability and a processing disorder). I am hesitant to put him on meds because he is in the less than 3% for weight and height. I had the same thought as you. I also have to find games that are really engaging, or my kid won't bother. I just bought a board game called "Puerto Rico", because it looks like a game where the player has to keep track of several pieces of information at once. My kid likes board games. He hates any kind of "memory" game, though- but likes the Papa's games. There are a few of the free math game sites, and they have way more than math games, and the games are really fun.

If I find more things that work, I will let you know. We should swap ideas!

Fitzi
thank you for all your help.

I was really hoping it would work. There was a math game my child used to love to do called playful minds.
Sadly it now crashes. They won't fix the bug. I would have paid for the app if there was a version that actually worked.
Yes my child does play math games. The site is hooda math and plays the cupcake version of Poppa's. I guess I should let my child play it more. I downloaded hooda math browser app to the android I hope that works.

We did try one ADHD med once made my child even more hyper. I am not against meds but my child's attention issues are caused by something else. My child is more distracted than just hyper.
I was told if meds didn't work child must be intellectually disabled not sure I by that I think the attention span and working memory is artificially lowering iq and iq is more low normal. Not that IQ really matters in autism because many autistics test are artificially lowered. I just want my child to reach a potential and be happy.

I am thinking of word searches, board games and pick up sticks.

Yes, I am not anti meds either, I just would like to exhaust all other avenues first.

Interesting. My son just recently had an iq test as part of an evaluation (we just got the ADD/ADHD diagnosis). The subtests were this odd jumble of scoring extremely high, and extremely low. He scored either "very low" or "borderline" on working memory, processing speed, visual tracking and auditory processing. But, on the classic ADHD test, he scored within normal range. However, the doc gave him the diagnosis for other factors. But, I don't know if it's the low iq scores in these areas which cause the ADD, or the ADD that causes the low iq scores. She also said he was more the inattentive type.

I just read about a card game good for working memory. You pick two cards in the deck (say ace and king) and players take turns drawing and discarding cards. Everytime the ace or king is picked, that player tries to remember which card was two cards before it. If they get it right, they keep that card. Whoever gets eight cards first wins. Once they get better at that, there is the more complicated version of everytime you pick a 2, remember two cards back, and 3, 3 cards back.

Edited to add: Yes. I don't think you can always get an accurate iq score with some neurological issues such as ADD or Autism. The child I am referring to is not my child on the spectrum. My child on the spectrum seems to grasp things much faster than my older son, but scores much lower on the iq test. I don't put too much faith in it's accuracy. I think my ASD son would score much higher on a non verbal iq test.

Your card game idea sounds great idea
I might use old made cards but I have to buy them

thanks for all helping me
I think I will buy a few card and board, games and maybe a guide from teacher pays teachers over the summer.
That should be enough and helpful

I just looked into a very expensive brain training systems
and thought maybe I should just spend the money
but I did extensive research and their is no evidence their product works beyond helping them
play the game



I found another cheap game the only cost is paper and pens
you put a piece of paper with random numbers, symbols, or words on it in front of the person
you hide the numbers or words
and they have to write the numbers they remember down


Another one is have them under line the word of the day in a text. They could use old homework sheets, old books.