DLTK's Crafts for Kids
Rules for Concentration  (the memory game)

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[Rules]   [Variation:  Spaghetti]   [Variation:  Speed Concentration]   [On-Line on our site]   [Printable on our site]

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The Rules

Concentration is a card game where all of the cards are shuffled and are laid face down on a surface in orderly rows and columns, like so:

All of the cards must have a mate (pairs).

Each turn, two cards are flipped over.  If the cards do not match, they are both turned back face down.  If the cards match, they are left face up and the person who made the match receives a point.

With a regular deck of cards, the pair is considered the card with the same color and number (so the ace of hearts matches the ace of diamonds).

Concentration can be played with regular playing cards or with special themed cards.  It can be played by 1, 2, 3 or 4 people.  More than 4 people can be divided into teams.   

It's a terrific game for young children to play and can be done with educational sets of cards (flash cards and the like).

 

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[Rules]   [Variation:  Spaghetti]   [Variation:  Speed Concentration]   [On-Line on our site]   [Printable on our site]

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Variation:  Spaghetti

Spaghetti works the same as concentration, but the cards are not placed in an orderly fashion.  They are simply scattered on the floor randomly.  The random pattern makes the game much more challenging.

 

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[Rules]   [Variation:  Spaghetti]   [Variation:  Speed Concentration]   [On-Line on our site]   [Printable on our site]

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Variation:  Speed Concentration

With 2 or more children, give each children their own concentration grid with the identical number of cards.  Say, "on your mark, get set, go".  Rather than taking turns, the kids all try to complete their own grid as quickly as possible.  The person who finishes first wins.  (You'll need referees to ensure the children are properly matching cards instead of just flipping them all over *grin*).

If you are playing during holidays, you can challenge family members of different abilities by giving young children fewer cards (10), teenagers a medium number (20) and adults the most (30).

 

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[Rules]   [Variation:  Spaghetti]   [Variation:  Speed Concentration]   [On-Line on our site]   [Printable on our site]

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On-Line Concentration on the site:

• Autumn
  
• Christmas
  
• Easter
  
• Halloween
  
• Pokemon
  
• Spring
  
• St. Patrick's Day
  
• Thanksgiving
  
• Valentine's Day

 

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[Rules]   [Variation:  Spaghetti]   [Variation:  Speed Concentration]   [On-Line on our site]   [Printable on our site]

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Printable Concentration on the site:

• Alphabet Flash Cards   (print two copies or match the upper with lower case)
   
• Number Flash Cards   (print two copies)
   
• Parts of a Sentence Flash Cards  (print two copies of the flashcard sets you are interested in)
   
• Phonics Flash Cards   (print two copies of the flashcards in the "Word Families - free printable worksheets" section of the word family you are interested in)
   
• Custom Memory Cards:  various themes including
   

Blue's Clues Pokemon Animals Baby Bible Body Parts Candy and Desserts Clothes Fantasy Flowers Hawaii Household Nutrition Time

Autumn Spring Summer Winter   Canada Day Chinese New Year Christmas Easter Father's Day Halloween Jewish Holidays Thanksgiving St. Patrick's Day Valentine's Day