Arrange the cards in two rows. You can begin with four or six cards and later, after these have been used with comparative accuracy, add more. Keep a record of the arrangement by the numbers on the back of the cards as in the Color Game. Allow about twenty seconds for the observation of the cards and their positions, then shuffle them and arrange them in the original position if possible. Score the same as in the Color Game.
The Seeing Game
Take the child into some room with which he is not familiar, and let him walk through the room slowly, then go out and make a list of everything he can remember. Now let him look through again and see what he can add to the list.
Walk a block down the street and have him make a list or tell you of as many of the things which he saw as possible. Whenever possible return for a second look so that the child may see and realize the many things that he has omitted.
The story of the experience of the magician Houdin and the method which he used for developing the observation of his son can easily suggest a number of interesting, and as you have learned, very profitable games.
The Game of Detective
Place a dozen objects on a table and let the child look at the table from twenty to thirty seconds and then leave the room. While gone change the position of two objects. Have him return and tell what changes were made. Where there are two or more children let the one who first observes the change remain and make the change for the others. The number of objects changed can be varied. But those out of the room should know how many changes are being made. At first the objects changed should be returned to their original positions, before the second change, so that the mental picture is the same each time. Later they can remain in the position to which they were changed so that there is a new relationship to be retained in mind each time.
A Game at the Dining Table
After a meal, while sitting at the table, let the children take a careful look at what is upon it and then close their eyes. Ask the location of different things and see how many they can remember accurately. While their eyes are closed take something off the table and hide it. See which one can first tell what is removed. Return it and next remove some other article. Let the child first telling what was removed be the one to remove the next article, and so on, or take turns around the table.