| p>Did you know that there are three distinct | | | | One of the age-old methods to enhance |
| memory stores in the child's brain? They are the | | | | intellectual potential, build vocabulary, enhance |
| sensory register, short-term memory store, and | | | | memory and attention span is repetitive reading - |
| long-term memory store. This is where | | | | so read to the kids when they are young and |
| experiences are retained, stored, and recalled. | | | | repeat the same story time and again so that the |
| Memory as you know plays a crucial part in | | | | child absorbs every nuance. |
| learning and intelligence. And in order to enhance | | | | The World of Memory Games |
| memory, you would need to promote aspects like | | | | The easiest and most interesting way to help |
| focused attention, associated ideas, and repetition | | | | children sharpen their memories is to introduce |
| in your kids. | | | | them to different kinds of games. |
| It is Really up to You | | | | For example you make up a limerick in which |
| Many of us grew up thinking that thinking power | | | | piggy goes to the market to buy his mother |
| and memory were inherited - that is why some | | | | cake, next repeat the rhyme and add one more |
| people are average while others are geniuses. This | | | | object to the list--cake and soap. And, as your |
| is a myth, research proves that you the parent | | | | child repeats the lines he will need to stretch his |
| can raise your child's intelligence and improve | | | | memory to remember what all piggy needed to |
| memory greatly. | | | | buy. |
| All you need to do is be a caring parent and | | | | Another oft played game is to put out a jumble |
| devote time to the child. Nurturing is what creates | | | | of objects on a table. Next allow the child or |
| a child who is caring, loving, and giving. | | | | group of children to glance at the objects for say |
| First you must never think negative thoughts. | | | | two minutes. Cover the objects with a cloth and |
| Children can feel your inner emotions and | | | | ask each child to jot down a list of what is on the |
| unexpressed feelings. A positive internal dialogue | | | | table. This will test their recall and by asking |
| communicates to the child and enhances not just | | | | questions about the objects you could jog their |
| thinking but self-confidence. | | | | memories. Play the game often and you will find |
| Introduce breathing exercises as well as daily | | | | that the kids become whizzes at it. |
| physical activities like gymnastics, jogging, sports, | | | | Technology has introduced great innovations in |
| swimming, and so on. Do them with your child. | | | | memory games and children are drawn to the |
| Deep breathing and physical exercises stimulate a | | | | wonderful 3D graphics and compelling tales that |
| kid's mental processes as well as overall | | | | absorb their attention completely. These are not |
| performance. | | | | just entertaining but are designed with |
| Did you know, mental gymnastics can be done by | | | | enhancement of brain power and memory as the |
| playing games like checkers, chess, scrabble, word | | | | ultimate goal. For example, Smart Neurons has |
| jumbles, and cryptograms and so on. These | | | | designed several educational CDs and DVDs that |
| games stimulate the mind and enhance strategy | | | | integrate imagery with sound and words keeping |
| skills. | | | | the children engrossed by the changing contexts, |
| Make the home environment comfortable and | | | | including music as well as words and sentences |
| warm. Be sure to converse with the children | | | | that are a part of the child's vocabulary and |
| whenever you can. This develops their language | | | | appropriate to the age group and developmental |
| skills right from birth to around 26 months of age | | | | stage of the child. |
| and that too at a very rapid rate. | | | | |