[For Seniors] Test Your Memory!? Ideas for Whiteboard Games
Recreation using a whiteboard is a staple in care settings.
It’s easy to do anytime, anywhere, costs almost nothing, and the appeal is that a wide variety of games can be enjoyed by both small and large groups.
In this article, I’d like to introduce memory games that use a whiteboard.
There are plenty of games that test memory—such as how many words you can recall or what can be inferred from a hint.
They’re perfect for brain training too, so be sure to give them a try.
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[For Seniors] Test Your Memory!? Whiteboard Game Ideas (11–20)
A word-making game using the A-row and K-row
This is a game where you compete to see how many words you can create within a time limit using characters from the A-row or K-row.
The key point is how smoothly you can recall words from your own knowledge.
If you write down the words you come up with on a whiteboard, it’s easy to see which characters you’ve used and which ones are left.
Encourage players to try multiple times so they can pick up tips, like not overusing letters in a single word.
It’s also fun to try combinations from other rows, not just the A-row or K-row.
Witty Letter Quiz
It’s a game where you look at letters arranged in unusual shapes or patterns and think about what they represent.
You search for what feels off about the displayed word and unravel it, which leads you to the answer.
If you can’t come up with the answer from the puzzle alone, you can gradually reveal hints and enjoy the feeling of getting closer.
Asking players to find alternative expressions in their heads or expand images from the letters helps stimulate the brain.
Word Calculation Game
Here is a recreational activity where you try calculating words using the rules of arithmetic.
First, present a few example problems that allow people to discover the rule, and write their answers.
Then, once you feel people have grasped the rule, present the actual problems.
If no one can figure out the rule, it can get dull, so it’s a good idea to offer additional hints if necessary.
If you prepare the problems in advance, you can start without any special materials, so it’s something you can enjoy even in short spare moments.
Let’s change one letter
It’s a word association game that everyone plays together, chatting lively while using a whiteboard.
First, write a three-letter word on the whiteboard.
Then change just one letter to make a different word.
You can change any one of the three letters.
Once it becomes a new word, change one letter again… and keep transforming the word step by step.
It’s simple, but thinking up words—even when you can’t answer right away—helps stimulate the brain.
The words you come up with also spark conversation; for example, if it’s the name of a food, you can say things like “I want to eat that” or “I’m not a fan,” and so on.
Common Radical Fill-in Quiz
If you want to tackle a slightly more complex task, I also recommend the common radical fill-in quiz.
A radical is a component that makes up a kanji.
For example, the common radical in “松” (matsu), “村” (mura), and “林” (hayashi) is the tree radical (kihen).
First, pick out many kanji that share a common radical, then remove the radical and line up what remains to create the quiz.
Alternatively, you can use YouTube videos and the like.
In that case, adjust the difficulty by pausing the video to give time to think, and so on.
Animal sound brain training
It’s a game where you read the written name of an animal, think about which sound that animal makes, and answer.
It tests your ability to connect memories—how quickly you can imagine the sound from the animal’s name.
Start by checking which animal makes which sound, then move on to the letter chart.
Because you can reach the answer by thinking carefully, it’s also important to be mindful of speed.
The process of thinking from the written word and then saying it aloud helps activate the brain.
[For Seniors] Test Your Memory!? Whiteboard Game Ideas (21–30)
Spot the difference
The “spot the wrong kanji” quiz that you can easily do on a whiteboard is a great brain exercise that uses not only memory and concentration but also vision.
First, pick one kanji and write the same character nine times on the whiteboard.
Among them, include one character that you’ve deliberately written incorrectly.
Whoever figures out which one is wrong answers first.
Just erasing or adding a single stroke or dot makes it surprisingly hard to find—and really fun!
