Auditory Memory
Miss Berndl's Fabulous Fours

Some Strategies to develop Auditory Memory - for parents (source unknown)

1. Read a sentence, paragraph or short story and ask the child to retell the story in his/her own words, or answer questions pertinent to the story.
2. Have the child hold a question you ask until the end of a story you read. Then have the child recall the question and see if he/she is able to answer it.
3. The child can learn simple little limericks or short poems. Begin with 4 lines, then increase the length when the child is able to handle it.
4. The child should try to learn his own phone number. When this is accomplished, he/she can learn others. Hive him/her the numbers orally to see if he/she can retain them.
5. Have the child plan where you are going for the day. List all the places. See if the child can remember all the places originally listed.
6. List orally several items needed at the store. See if the child can help you remember what you need to buy.
7. Ask the child to recall the events of the day or the previous day. If possible, try to have him recall these events in the correct sequential order.
8. Play a memory game. Say three numbers in a row (6, 6, 9). Have the child repeat all three. If he/she is able to do this with ease. add an extra digit or two. Continue adding digits as the child progresses.
9. Play a round-robin game. This can be done at the dinner table. A member of the family makes up a sentence which he whispers to the person sitting next to him. Each person in turn whispers the sentence to the one next to him. The last person must say the sentence out loud to see if it was repeated correctly. This is also known as Broken Telephone.
10. Ask "How many fruits can you remember? Say after me. Pears, plums, grapes and peaches." The child repeats them in the proper sequence. Increase the number of items as the child is able to handle them. This can be done with many different related groups.
11. Play "Commands" -- "I command you to go to the door, touch the knob with your left hand, hop three times, and then sit down." If the child can perform all these commands, try more!
12. A sentence can be presented orally to the child and he/she is to repeat it verbatim. "The girl went to the candy store to buy gum drops, licorice and nuts." This can also be increased in length as the child progresses.
13. Use a deck of cards (with letters, numbers, pictures or forms). Tell the child to find a series of cards and to put them down in the order you asked for them. Example: 3 twos, 4 eights, 1 king.
14. Have the child complete the following: "Mother sent me to the store to get bread." Have him repeat the sentence with the item named and add one more. Continue adding an additional item each time.
15. If you have a few spare minutes, find a simple picture in a magazine. Ask the child to perform a series of directions. Example: Tell him/her to do three specific things to the picture, such as circle one thing, underline another, put a dot on the third. Say all three commands at once -- then have the child perform. He/She should not begin following your directions until you have finished giving them.
16. Rhythmic clapping. Clap your hands in a given pattern, such as "short, short, long, short, long, long." Have the child tap back the identical sequence. Improvise many different patterns. Do not let the child see you clap -- make him listen and then perform. Allow the child to be leader. You may purposely make a mistake to see if the child can retain his own pattern. Other materials can be used, such as a drum, pot, sticks, or tapping of a foot.
17. Start a story. "Mrs. Brown had a party and served cake." The child has to repeat the story and add one more thing Mrs. Brown served.