On our most recent teleclass, we were fortunate to have Rich Mancuso, Executive Director of LearningRx NYC-UES – who was also our generous sponsor – discuss how your children learn, and what you can do with them over the summer to keep their brains sharp to avoid the infamous ‘summer slide’.
In case you missed it, you can listen to the recorded teleclass here.
The following are some great games that were discussed during the teleclass – and please feel free to download this amazing PDF that has many more ideas and suggestions on avoiding the summer slide for kids of all ages!
No-Cost, Home-Created Brain Games and Activities
Plenty of free games can also increase cognitive abilities and keep kids off the “summer slide”. The trick is to find several that are age-appropriate and that your kids find fun.Here are a few favorites from the brain-training experts at LearningRx.
Paperless Tic-Tac-Toe: Take the classic game of tic-tac-toe and assign each box a number. Have your child visualize this grid in her mind and call off the box number in which she wants to place her mark. Or, try playing tic-tac-toe by drawing the grid in the air and pointing to the box where you want to place your mark. The game is over when someone wins with three in a row, or when someone loses by taking an occupied spot.
What it helps: Memory, visualization, planning, focus, problem solving
20 Questions: Think of a person or object and give your child 20 chances to narrow down what you’re thinking of by asking yes or no questions. To help them improve their logic and reasoning, teach them to strategize by using questions that will significantly narrow down the categories, such as “Are they alive?” or “Do we have one at our house?”
What it helps: Logic, reasoning, memory
Rhyme Time: Have your child choose four rhyming words and use them to create a poem. For younger kids, simply say a word, then take turns coming up with words that rhyme with it.
What it helps: Auditory analysis, verbal rhythm, memory
Make a Mental Movie: Start with a subject like a puppy and then have your child help create what the puppy looks like; his size, shape, color, etc. Have your child talk about where the puppy is; next to a doghouse, in the forest, etc. Then have your child add
other details such as the weather or what the dog is saying. By developing pictures with color, size, perception, sound, and background, kids learn how to develop a more complete picture.
What it helps: Comprehension, memory
The Twinkle Twinkle song: Have your child replace the words to “Twinkle Twinkle Little Star” with state capitals. Want a twist for older kids? Have them include a rhyme at the end of each sentence. “Montpelier is the capital of Vermont state, and I think Phoenix, Arizona is great…”
What it helps: Mnemonics, memory, strategy, rhyming
Needle in a Haystack: Take a page from a newspaper and time your child as she circles all occurrences of a specific letter. Identify which sound symbols are more easily found than others and focus on increasing both accuracy and speed.
What it helps: Visual processing speed, sustained attention
Take the next best step and call LearningRx NYC-UES at 212-738-9264!
Rich Mancuso is the Center Director and Owner of LearningRx NYC on the Upper East Side. As a parent of two teenage boys struggling with Dyslexia and ADHD, Rich spent years searching for ways to target and fix the underlying issues holding his sons back. He found this solution in LearningRx. Inspired by the program’s impact on their performances in school and in their daily lives, Rich became a staunch advocate of the life-changing effects of cognitive remediation. Since opening the first NYC LearningRx center in 2010, Rich and his team of learning specialists continue to help children and adults across the learning spectrum.
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