15 Innovative and Fun Brain Games for Kids

Getting your kids to realise the value of stimulating the mind is always an uphill task. Watching them get absorbed in controversial cartoons such as Doraemon may make you cringe but what can you do? If you tell them to be productive, they simply protest in their adorable little voices claiming that if they have no homework, why should they do extra work? Now, this is a reasonable request and even the most authoritative moms would feel a tinge of pain. However, this doesn’t mean you resign yourself to having lost this battle or force them to do something they don’t want to do. The solution lies in getting your kids to stimulate their brains through fun activities in the form of games.

Video: 10 Innovative and Fun Brain Games for Kids

Importance of Brain Games for Kids

Brain games help stimulate the brain and make your child think in unconventional ways to solve a problem. Just like physical exercise, the brain needs its own form of stimulation to improve upon areas like analytical thinking, creativity and problem-solving. The best part is that kids are likely to be open to the idea of a game as compared to, say, reading books.

Challenging Brain Games for Children

1. Sudoku

This game is a sensational hit for all ages and is known to arrest the decline of brain function in older people. It involves a grid with some numbers inside them and the rest is empty. The aim of the game is to fill up all the missing numbers. While it looks deceptively simple, the catch is that you cannot repeat the same number in the same row or column. The defining feature of this game is that it challenges your child to think 3-4 steps ahead and can help in planning.

2. Blue Block

Blue Block is a mobile game that has an interesting backstory to keep your child engrossed. The objective is simple: to free the Blue Dragon by rearranging the blocks so that it can reach the exit. It teaches kids that brute force isn’t always an option and simple logic can make their actions effortless!

3. Colour Code, Master Mind and Guess the Code

Both the games have been clubbed together as they have similar objectives, that is, to figure out a random code. Hints are given to allow your child to deduce what the code might be. These games help your child to analyse the information provided and use it logically to figure out the code.

4. Memory

This game ranks high in the recommended brain games for kids as it helps improve the memory. The objective of the game is to uncover all the similarly paired flashcards on a grid. A maximum of two cards can be revealed simultaneously after which the picture inscribed on them is hidden. Only if the cards are similar will their picture side be shown permanently. In this way, your child must remember the correct location of the cards to uncover all of them. This game helps improve attention and focus of a child.

5. Brain Fitness

An addictive mobile game, Brain Fitness is an overall brain workout that helps exercise logic, attention, and retention of information.

6. Simply Smarter Kids

This game makes use of audiovisual cues which must be remembered in the correct sequence. It is designed to help develop and improve short-term as well as long-term memory. No parental supervision is required for this game.

7. Lumosity

This game has been scientifically designed by neuro-physical researchers for optimal brain function. It has over 60 tasks that test your child’s reaction time, memory, attention, flexibility and problem-solving skills. The user interface has been beautifully designed, fusing art and science into a fun-filled brain development game.

8. Puzzle

Puzzles are a good unsupervised activity as your child’s curiosity would keep them engaged with the game. They help in brain development as they build children’s spatial reasoning as well as hand-eye coordination.

9. Word Hunt

This game incorporates flashcards with pictures and needs to be matched with the corresponding word that describes it. For instance, the flashcard may have a picture of a fish. Here, your child will have to choose the picture associated with the word fish, for example, water. The flashcards can be of different categories such as animals, flowers, household objects, etc. This game is great for children around 5 years of age who are still learning new words. It teaches them to remember names and also identify the words associated with the objects.

10. Find That Thing

While this game is similar to word hunt, the only difference is that it requires physical activity on your child’s part. This game can best be played in an open area such as a park or playground. You take out the flashcard and your kid must then find the object which is mentioned on the flashcard. For example, if the word on the card is “Park Bench” your child will have to locate one in his surroundings. This game helps improve their comprehension too.

11. Maze

This simple game can be found in activity books, mobile apps and even in some parks. The gameplay is simple: find the path to the exit. This has numerous benefits for the child such as:

• It helps in hand-eye coordination as your child needs to trace the path correctly.
• It improves their problem-solving abilities by forcing them to think out of the box. If one approach fails, they adapt and find other possible routes to get to the other side.

12. Hide and Seek

It is one of the games played by kids all over the world. It helps children improve their analytical skills. For a young developing mind, it helps them distinguish a viable hiding spot from a bad one.

13. New Languages

Apart from learning their mother tongue, kids can be exposed to another regional language at home. Studies have shown that this helps stimulate their prefrontal cortex which is also linked to improved memory. Simply making your child sign up for a language class is not enough, however. While they may learn the language in the class, no doubt, it is important that they find a way to actually speak in it and practice it. For instance, if they are learning Punjabi, you can engage in activities like watching a Punjabi movie together, or listening to Punjabi songs, etc. to increase their exposure to the language. You may even ask them to interpret a movie or a song for you. While it is unlikely that they will give a flawless translation, it will boost their confidence and make them eager to learn.

14. Board Games

Games like Snakes ‘n’ Ladders, Monopoly, Othello, and Chess are all good as they help you understand your child’s social skills. Is your child being patient and waiting for their turn? Does he cry and behave like a sore loser when he loses a game? You will observe these skills when you play along with them, and whenever needed, you can teach them to lose gracefully and win with humility.

15. Musical Numbers

Getting your kid to learn writing numbers can be a little difficult as they sometimes find it difficult to grasp abstract concepts. Musical numbers employ visual aids as well as music to make learning fun and interesting. First, set up Lego blocks of ascending numerical values across your child’s room. For example, you can place one Lego block in the middle of the room and two blocks near the bedside table. This can be done till the number 10, 15 or 20, depending on how many numbers you want your child to learn and the availability of Lego blocks. Next, set up a music system with your child’s favourite songs in a place nearby so that it is audible from the room. Then, start the music and dance with your kid like a crazy person; they’re bound to join in! Finally, stop the music and scream a number! This is when your child must run to the area of the room with the correct Lego blocks. This process can be repeated until they learn all the numbers. This game can be used to make them learn alphabets as well – simply substitute the Lego blocks with alphabet blocks.

Things to Remember While Playing Brain Games With Your Child

Children don’t always respond well to brain games. Sometimes, they just want to have fun. Here are a few things you need to remember while introducing them to these brain games:

1. Be Patient With Your Child

The child may not understand the game at the first go, or might not like the game immediately. You may let him play another game and slowly introduce the new brain game after a few days.

2. Get More Participants

Sometimes, the number of participants can encourage your child to play a brain game. Create an atmosphere of fun with some lemonade and snacks and you are good to go.

3. Always Participate

At times, you will be tempted to leave your child alone to play a game and do something else. You can let him play alone once in a while, but if you continue doing so, your child might lose interest and do something else without you knowing. Your involvement is required for you to know how much your child is improving. So, ensure you always participate.

Playing brain-boosting games can help your child learn and improve existing skills without really knowing that he is learning. Your little one will become more creative, and he will try to find different ways to solve a problem. By playing these games, your kid will also be able to concentrate better, and you’ll see a significant improvement in his observational and reasoning skills.

Another way to hone your child’s skills from a young age is to subscribe to an activity box like Intellikit, which is designed for kids. The activities help boost various skills, right from problem-solving and analytical to gross motor skills, and also develop your child’s interest in art, craft, and reading. Based on a unique theme each month, your child learns something new each day, all while having fun. Subscribe to Intellikit, enter your child’s age, and receive a box right at your doorstep every month!

As parents, developing your child’s brain is your responsibility. However, if you force your children to do something they don’t like, they may not put effort into it. Just try and make your kid read the newspaper and see what happens! The solution lies in finding games that your child responds well to and getting yourself involved as well.

Also Read: Best Brain Gym Exercises for Children