Homemade Memory Game

Today, as a homeschool how to we’re going to learn how to make your very own homemade game. This is a great homeschool preschool activity because it’s a fun craft to do for almost any age and it can be used for almost any skill you’re trying to learn. I like the lids because it’s a little easier to pick up and turn over than just a normal piece of cardstock, also it makes for a different tactile experience to play with.

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Future Ticia here, I’m updating this post with easier-to-see pictures, because when I first wrote this 10 years ago, my skills weren’t where they are now, and that is also why the pictures are SO small! I’m going to add comments as necessary with things I’ve learned. I also found this memory games if you want to expand beyond what I did.

Supplies for your homemade memory game

lids from cans or jars (if you use a smooth edge can opener this is a great use for all those lids, if not you will need to tape the edges so you don’t cut yourself), stickers that you have matching pairs (I used animal stickers in my example), most sticker sets will come with duplicate sheets

Putting together the homemade memory game

We’ve made this memory game a couple of times and it is still one of their favorite games to play. Probably because they get to help make it, and the stickers are always ones they like.

It’s very important you have an even number of lids, and at least one pair for each child to put stickers on.

Keeping each child happily involved is very important.

Future Ticia 2019 comment, it’s also because if you lose pieces you don’t care because it’s all made from recyclables, and then you get to have fun making the game again. Also, look how small that picture was, why did Ticia 2009 save a super small version? Sigh…

Now that you have all of your materials gathered and willing helpers, give each child their pairs of stickers, a pairs of lids, and led them get to sticking stickers on the lids.

Playing your homemade memory game

Now depending on the skill of your child, choose your particular rules for Memory and play the game. We set out about 20 or so lids and take turns flipping over 2, if yours match you keep them. We don’t use the if you matched two you get to turn over another two, because it can lead to arguments and unhappy kiddos.

Mine are just now getting into playing games and this is loved by all three, so it’s a good go-to game in all variations. I’m about to make some for letters and numbers, but am going to do those on cardstock and laminate them. Mainly because it takes forever to save up enough lids to do that many, and it’s good to have a variety of materials for making games.

Future Ticia 2022 here, I’d save myself the trouble of laminating them. Instead I would just leave them as plain cardstock, because I didn’t use the games enough to need to laminate them.

More games or preschool ideas

• Books of the Bible Go Fish!
• Me on the Map: Reading a Map lesson
• Ten Reasons You Need File Folder Games
• How Do Trees Grow: Preschool Science
• Creation Story mini book and game