🧩 Thinking & feelings · Ages 3–4 · about 2 weeks

Listen and Remember

Goal: Follow two-step instructions and remember a short list of things.

For parents: Following instructions and holding things in mind (working memory) predict how well children settle at school. Games train both.

Do together

  1. Two-step errands

    You need: Nothing

    Give two-part jobs: 'Get your shoes and put them by the door.' When that is easy, try three parts.

  2. Kim's game

    You need: A tray, four or five objects, a cloth

    Look at the objects together, cover them, and take one away. Which one is missing?

  3. Going shopping

    You need: Nothing

    Play 'I went to the shop and bought an apple.' Your child repeats it and adds one thing. How long can the list get?

Talk about it

  • What did I ask you to do first?
  • Which thing was missing?
  • What helps you remember?

Words to use

  • first
  • then
  • remember
  • missing
  • listen

Play

  • Memory Match
    Memory
  • What's Missing?
    Remembering what you saw
  • Focus Farm
    Attention
Play these games free

Every game is free for every family until 20 November 2026.

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