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Use memory game cards to tell a story

in: Etc.

Another great memory game hack! This one's from Heather:

When my daughter was too young to play her big brother's Memory game, she was still fascinated by the cards and wanted to "play." We soon hit on another way to play with the cards that we could all enjoy. We stack about ten cards face down, then draw the first card. Let's say it's a skunk. The person who drew the card then starts telling a story ("Once upon a time there was a Skunk named Pete.") The next person draws a card. Say it's a banana. So they continue the story by adding a detail about bananas ("Pete loved bananas.") And so it goes until the cards are all used. Of course there are plenty of ways to vary the play of the game according to the ages of participants, but anyway you do it, there are always lots of giggles (not to mention skill-building).

Related: How to simplify memory games for preschoolers

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About Asha Dornfest

Asha Dornfest is a writer, parent, and insistent optimist living in Portland, Oregon. She is the author of PARENT HACKS, co-author of MINIMALIST PARENTING, and co-host of the Edit Your Life podcast.

Comments

  1. Jill in Atlanta says

    March 7, 2009 at 4:53 pm

    I love this. We got a similar storytelling game from a fast food place that spells chicken wrong. (But I like their toy.) Except we’ve lost most of the little cards that came with it. An old memory game would be fun to add to the pack for entertainment on car trips.

  2. Carly says

    March 13, 2009 at 7:46 am

    What a fabulous idea. My 3-year-old got Memory for her birthday, and she has a hard time understanding how to play (especially the taking turns part). But she loves the cards. We’ll definitely be doing this!

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