Here are fun and engaging visual memory games for kids with executive functioning challenges — perfect for therapists, parents, or teachers!
Visual memory is the ability to remember or recall information that you have seen. As pediatric therapists, we often see that children who struggle with self-regulation also have difficulties with visual memory.
Self-regulation is how a child manages their emotions, behavior, responses, and attention. If a child has difficulty with focusing or filtering outside distractions, it’s much more difficult for them to process and retain information gathered through their visual system.
Visual memory is also closely tied to executive functioning and is a key part of how they learn and interact in their educational setting or with others out in the community.
Why is visual memory important for kids?
Visual memory helps with academic skills like reading, writing and math. It is the executive functioning skill that helps kids remember their sight words or how numbers are placed when they solve math problems. Visual memory also helps with a child’s ability to move around from place to place. Where is the bathroom in relation to their classroom? Or, where is my locker?
How can I tell if a child is having difficulty with visual memory?
If a child struggles with visual memory, you may notice that they struggle to copy from the board or form their letters when writing. She might constantly forget where she left her binder or her backpack. He might not be able to follow instructions that are given for him to read at the top of a page.
The good news is that these skills can be strengthened with practice — through easy visual memory games and activities.
Visual Memory Games for Kids
Below are some of our favorite visual memory games that also target self-regulation!
What’s Missing || Place 5–6 items on a tray, let your child look for 30 seconds, then cover and remove one. Ask: “What’s missing?” Try our Who’s Missing Game with a group of kids or check out this fun school supplies memory game!
Picture Flash || Show a picture for 5 seconds, then hide it. Ask your child to draw or describe what they remember.
Red Light, Green Light (with a twist!) || Hold up color cards (red = stop, green = go) instead of saying the words. This builds visual attention and impulse control!
Calm-Down Visuals || Create a “calm-down visual menu” with pictures of strategies your child can choose when upset — supports both visual memory and emotional regulation. Try our free calming breathing cards!
Simon Says (with extra steps) || Add 2-3 step commands to this classic game for practice remembering the extra steps and trying to physically perform them in sequence. (“Simon says turn around, jump up and down twice, then touch your head).
Uno with Rules || Add a physical component with each color card or each number (i.e. if you see the number 2, clap twice. Or, if you play a yellow card, you have to jump up and down 3x). Keep this simple at first with the child being required to remember only one “extra” direction.
Obstacle Course with Verbal Instructions || This is a favorite activity for our Treehouse kiddos! They love trying to remember how they have to complete an obstacle course with crazy directions. For instance, we might say, “First cross the balance beam, then jump over the spots, then put a sticker on your knee.”
Our Favorite Visual Memory Games on Amazon
There are also some fun visual memory games you can purchase like:
A Classic Memory Game with a Disney Theme || Play this classic memory card game! Flip and find pairs by remembering what you saw and where it was.
Pengaloo || This game combines bright pieces with simple, engaging gameplay—perfect for boosting visual memory, color matching, and strategic thinking.
Simon || Simon is the exciting electronic game of lights and sounds. Players repeat random sequences of flashing lights by pressing the colored pads in the correct order to progress to the next level.
Chat Chains || Designed as a social skills game for kids and teens, Chat Chains helps players develop better conversation skills through 150 engaging topics.
Ladybug Garden || Underneath each ladybug is a hidden picture. Players take turns lifting two ladybugs to find matching images. Bonus: this game is great for building fine motor skills and it’s SUPER cute!
Tongues Out || This fun board game is designed to develop memory, teach children about colors and strengthen social skills. Easy to understand and play – no reading required.
