A Memory Game That’s Actually Fun

You’ll need:

6+ business cards, one-sided
pens or markers in different colors

Write pairs of cards which highlight payoffs that your kids actually consider to be awesome. When a player finds a match, they receive what’s on the cards. For my 4-year-old, I wrote ten cards using a different color marker for each matching pair:

• get a hug
• get tickled
• get rushed (this means we chase him around with much stomping and fuss until we catch him and give him a sandwich hug)
• get a standing ovation
• get a compliment

This is a great opportunity for kids to give and receive, so be sure to select events or items that you are happy to give and receive yourself. Choose words and a number of cards that are appropriate for your family. Even if they are young, I bet they’ll add these words to their vocabulary in a flash.

Older kids can take on challenges, like cards that are duds, wild, or traps. They can also exercise their imagination and make up the cards themselves.

The above game is rated G, but I’m sure you also see the fantastic extortion possibilities, LOL, for adult versions. Who wouldn’t want a card that says, “Receive 1 foot massage”?

Readers, I invite you to comment, especially with your ideas for fun things to do with old business cards. I still have hundreds.