MenteBrillante
What each sheet works on
- Spot the difference: visual attention and comparing. Two drawings, one above the other, with five differences in the first sheets and seven later on. Going over the picture bit by bit, from left to right, is the best way not to miss any.
- Count the shapes: visual scanning and counting. Circles, squares, triangles, stars and hearts are mixed up on the page, and you count how many there are of each. Ticking them off as you go helps.
- Follow the path: keeping your eyes on one line among several. Four or five tangled lines run from a letter to a number, and you follow each one to see where it ends up.
- Symmetry: spatial awareness. Half a shape is drawn on a grid of dots, and you draw the other half as if the middle line were a mirror.
Tips for a session
Picture puzzles are a good choice for people who find words or numbers tiring, or whose first language is not English, because nobody needs to read much. They also suit a mixed group: everyone can do the same sheet at their own pace.
- Good light and a felt-tip. A thick pen is easier to see and to hold than a fine ballpoint, and it makes the circles clear.
- Say what you have found. In a group, ask “who has found one?” and let people describe it: “the cat has no tail”. Talking about the picture is half the fun.
- Finger first, pencil after. For the paths, follow the line with a finger before drawing over it.
- No stopwatch. Finding all of them slowly is better than finding three in a hurry.
An honest word
These sheets are for an enjoyable half hour, keeping a routine going and concentrating on something people like doing, which is no small thing. But there is no solid evidence that exercises like these prevent cognitive decline, and they do not replace an assessment or a plan from a professional. We go through the sources in what the science says about puzzles.
More large-print sheets: attention exercises, word searches, reality orientation worksheets, memory activities and the large-print activity sheets.
