Children love to play simple matching games. Variously known as "Concentration" or "Memory," such games have been on the market for a long time. You can make a memory game tailored to a child's interests by using materials or objects you have around the house. These games can boost reading skills, memory, vocabulary and classification skills.

Two sets of word cards, picture cards or a combination of word and picture cards, made from simple index cards cut in half, construction paper cut in squares or any blank paper. (See below for more ideas.)

• Shuffle the cards and lay them face down in rows on a table or on the floor.


• The first player selects a card and turns it over, then selects a second card and hopes that it will match the first.


• If it is a match, he gets to keep the cards and takes another turn.


• If there is no match, he replaces the cards, face down, in the same spot and the second player takes a turn.


• Keep playing until all the cards have been matched. The player with the most cards wins.

• Together, think of some flat shapes: square, rectangle, triangle, circle, diamond, star, crescent, oval). Using index cards, write a shape name on each card. Then draw each shape on a separate index card. Match the words and drawings. If the child is too young to read the words, make two sets of drawings.


• Read a book together. Make two sets of matching word cards, using words from the story.


• Make two sets of matching cards with letters of the alphabet. Start with just a few letters and add more. Variations: match capital and lower case letters.


• Save lids from cans of frozen orange juice, potato chips, or nuts, lids from jars or tops from film canisters. Glue stickers (animals, insects, vehicles, colored objects), words, stamps or coins on one side of the lids for a more durable game.


• Use matching pairs of commemorative quarters. Place quarters state side down and play the game.


• Older grandchildren may enjoy creating memory games for the two of you to play or creating games for younger siblings.