Visual sequential memory
Visual sequential memory is the ability to recall the order of numbers, shapes, words and other images after viewing them. Children with poor visual sequential memory have difficulty in spelling. They may also have difficulty in remembering patterns.
Activities to improve visual sequential memory
- Activities involving movements and body parts
Do three actions- touch the nose with the left hand, bend forward, and pull the left ear with the right hand. The child has to observe these actions and repeat these in the same order. Do many such actions having three steps. A variety of actions can be performed. Use as many parts of the body as possible in these activities. Gradually increase the complexity by having activities which have four, five or six sequences.
- Memory games
Memory game with words :
Write three words on a piece of paper or on a board. Allow the child 5-10 seconds (or less depending on the child’s memory skill) to read the words. Cover the words. Ask her to recall and tell/write the words in the same order. This activity can be done with numbers as well.
Initially, show words which have something in common. Examples: 1. cat, dog and cow 2. three common wild animals- tiger, lion, deer. 3. sun, moon, star. In the next stage, use words which have nothing in common –belt, flower, said. Increase the level of difficulty of the exercise by having the child recall sequences having four, five and six words.
Memory games with objects.
Show the child three objects. Let the child look at these for 5-10 seconds. Remove/cover the objects. She has to recall the three objects in the sequence in which they were kept. Initially, use objects which have something in common- pen, pencil and eraser. Another example: shoes, slippers and socks. In the next stage have objects which do not have anything in common- book, knife and necklace. Increase the level of difficulty of the game by having four, five or six objects. Remember the stress is on telling the sequence of the objects displayed. Another variation of the game would be to show the objects one at a time. Example: Show the child shoes and remove them, show socks and remove and finally slippers. The child has to tell the sequence in which the objects were shown.
Let the child read a story and she has to recall the events in the story in the correct order.
Search the net for visual sequential memory worksheets.
Related activities in this website: Card Game, Recall Ability Exercise, Spell Game, Visual Memory Game.