The Tray Memory Game is a brilliant way to challenge children’s visual memory and attention skills in a playful, low-pressure way.
It’s easy to set up, uses items you already have at home, and can be adapted for different ages or group sizes. Whether you’re playing solo, in pairs, or as a family, it always sparks curiosity and a bit of friendly competition.
This activity is especially great for building focus and encouraging children to practise recall in a fun, no-stress setting.
Materials Needed
- A tray or flat surface
- 15–20 small household items (try to include a mix of colours, textures, and types)
- Paper and pens or pencils (optional, for writing guesses)
Tools Needed
- Optional: timer or phone stopwatch
Steps
- Set Up the Tray
Place 15–20 different small items on a tray. Try to include variety — e.g. spoon, toy car, coin, rubber, key, button, pebble, LEGO brick. - Observation Time
Let players study the tray for 3–5 minutes (or as long as you like). Use a timer if helpful — or keep it relaxed with no time limit. - Hide the Tray
Cover or remove the tray so no one can peek. - Recall the Items
Ask players to say or write down as many items as they can remember. You can also take turns naming one item at a time. - Reveal and Check
Bring the tray back and check how many were remembered. Celebrate the effort, not just the score!
Variations
- Themed Trays: Try themes like nature, kitchen items, or toys for added interest.
- Missing Item: After showing the tray, secretly remove one object and ask players to spot what’s missing.
- Pair Play: Play in teams and combine your memory power.
- Speed Round: Use just 10 items but give only 30 seconds to look!
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