Brain Games
By Kathryn Kilpatrick
Which letter in each of the numbers given will make up the correct word?
ABC DEF GHI JKL MNO PRS TUV WXY
2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
EXAMPLE: FATHER AND
6 6 8 4 3 7 ANSWER
_ _ _ _ _ _ M O T H E R
————————————————————————————————————
- BROTHER AND S I S T E R
7 4 7 8 3 7
_ _ _ _ _ _
- USED FOR WRITING P E N C I L
7 3 6 2 4 5
_ _ _ _ _ _
- SOMETHING WITH A HANDLE K N I F E
5 6 4 3 3
_ _ _ _ _
A BAD STORM T O R N A D O
8 6 7 6 2 3 6
_ _ _ _ _ _ _- FOUND IN A SALAD T O M A T O
8 6 6 2 8 6
_ _ _ _ _ _
- A PLACE IN THE HOUSE
5 4 8 2 4 3 6
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ K I T C H E N
- A SOUTHEASTERN STATE CAPITAL
2 8 5 2 6 8 2
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ A T L A N T A
- A MEDICATION
2 7 7 4 7 4 6 A S P I R I N
_ _ _ _ _ _ _
- A POPULAR SPORT S K I I N G
7 5 4 4 6 4
_ _ _ _ _ _
- A CARTOON CHARACTER S N O O P Y
7 6 6 6 7 9
_ _ _ _ _ _
- COMMON LAST NAME A N D E R S O N
2 6 3 3 7 7 6 6
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
- SOMETHING IN A WALLET P H O T O S
7 4 6 8 6 7
_ _ _ _ _ _
Want an Active Mind? Expand Your Horizons
Staying engaged socially, physically and mentally can enhance cognitive performance. But did you know that changing things up rather than just doing the familiar activities is an essential part of the process? “Use it or lose it” certainly applies, but variety counts, too.
“Whether you think you can or you think you can’t – you’re right.’’ -Henry Ford
Try something new each week. Here are a few examples:
- Do math in your head: Start off with simple problems, then try harder ones (ex: 75 + 89) or subtract backward, such as (172 – 13) and continue the sequence.
- Foreign language options: Consider learning basic ways to say things such as hello, goodbye, thank you, please, what is your name, etc. in several languages.
- Engage in hand-eye coordination tasks: Utilize fine motor skills during hobbies and tasks. Years ago, I did lots of counted cross stitch projects and recently picked it up again.
- Try a new game: Playing with children or teaching someone how to play are excellent ways to take you out of your “automatic pilot” mode. Recently, a friend and I decided to relearn how to play Canasta and Rummikub. Challenging, but we had fun!
- Reading: Try audiobooks instead of textbooks since that engages different parts of your brain. An interesting book I recently enjoyed listening to was “Atomic Habits” by James Clear to expand on some of the concepts in my presentations on building good habits and breaking bad ones.
- Change it up: Don’t always go to the same restaurant, coffee shop or grocery store. During my decades as a speech pathologist doing home health care, I would often use search engines to find the location of a new client. On nice days, I often took a scenic route at the end of my day instead of the fastest way. If I got lost, it often became an adventure.
Like these tips? Want more? Visit Blogs — Memory Fitness at Kathryn Kilpatrick’s website: connectionsincommunication.com.
