Ollie's Missing Object Memory Tray

What you need

• Plate or tray, 1 tray or towel
• Toy cars, 1
• Rolled socks, 1
• Crayons or markers, 1
• Paper, 1 sheet for tally (optional)
• Spoon, 1
• Clear cups, 1
• Hair clip, 1
• Paper bag, 1, for hiding (optional)
• Pencil, 1 (optional)

How to do it

Grown-up prep: Gather 8 small safe household items and a tray or towel. Keep small parts like keys well away from babies and toddlers.

1. Pick 8 different small things from around your home.
2. Lay all the items out on the tray.
3. Look at every item for 30 seconds. Try to remember them all!
   Ask: Which item do you think will be the hardest to remember, and why?
4. Close your eyes tight while your partner hides one item.
5. Open your eyes and name the missing item.
   Ask: What do you think is missing? How did you figure it out?
6. Swap jobs and play again, taking turns.
7. Make a tally mark on paper for each right guess.
8. Try a twist: hide two items, or swap two items' places!
9. Now play with someone new! How many items can you remember?
   Ask: What sneaky trick will you try on your next player?

Play it again

• Double vanish: remove two items at once and name both.
• Switcheroo: swap the places of two items and spot which ones moved.
• Theme tray: use only things from one room, one color or one shape.