DIY Montessori Memory Match Game
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If you are anything like me, you see these cute Montessori-themed toys on Etsy, you add them to your cart with excitement & then you pause. You see the price & you are thinking, really? I could certainly make that myself.
Well, you are right! In the case of this darling Memory Match game, you can absolutely make it yourself and you can save money doing so!
When I first found this matching game on Etsy, it was listed for $37 for a 2x2 inch set or $48 for a 3x3 inch set of 24 squares (12 images total). Following the directions below, you can make a 2x2 inch set for less than $10 and have the satisfaction of creating it yourself.
I started out making the game as a stocking stuffer for my toddler, but after I discovered how easy it was, how great they turned out & how much money I saved per set, this game quickly became my go-to gift for all the toddlers in my life.
Benefits of Memory Games
Besides the cute factor and my constant desire to make a Montessori playroom without needing to refinance my house, there are some great benefits to giving your children a chance to play memory games. In this article, Emma Wayne explains that some of those benefits include:
Playing memory games can improve other brain functions, such as attention, concentration, and focus. Memory games give space to critical thinking and that helps children nurture their attention to detail.
Memory games can improve visual recognition. With many memory games based on spotting differences, or linking two related images, children improve their visual discrimination. This will lead to an acceleration in distinguishing images from one and another.
Short-term memory is key to playing memory games and playing them often will improve function in this area. A good short-term memory can improve a person's long-term memory too. Both are linked and being able to move things from your short-term memory into long-term and will improve learning in other areas.
Though memory games are a short-term boost, players have to plan their moves as they go. From revealing a card to plotting their next move, children can learn the importance of thinking ahead and plotting their next choice.
Now that we are in love with the product & know how it will benefit our kiddos, let's get to it.
What you will need:
2-inch or 3-inch will both work fine. I wanted my game to be a little more compact, so I went with the 2-inch. Since there are 50 in a pack, you can actually make 2 sets out of this option.
Water Slide Paper
This paper allows you to print your own images & then place them on lots of different surfaces. For this project make sure you select a clear paper. If you purchase the white paper, there will be a white border around your image. It is also important to select the paper according to the type of printer that you will be using.
You will only need 1-2 pages for this project, but there are lots of other great uses for the water slide paper that you can check out here.
If you don’t have a printer or don’t want to purchase an entire pack of water slide paper, you can purchase a single set of images from our store and have them mailed to you directly.
Images
You can download the pages I have created from my digital store:
Human Body (Check out how this can double as an object match game too!)
Family Faces
This is one you’ll need to put together on your own, but it is a really cute way to familiarize your little one with your family members & exercise their memory at the same time.
A soft cloth
Roughly 1 hour of your time
After I printed my file my time was spent accordingly:
15 minutes cutting (sometimes I get a little OCD, so you could likely trim some time here)
45 minutes applying images
5 minutes applying clear coat
Get your Digital Download now!
Now that you have collected all of your supplies, you are ready to get started.
Assembly Directions
Download the print page that you will be using to your computer.
Save the file somewhere that you can easily find it.
Load your water slide paper so that your print will end up on the glossy side.
If you aren’t sure about your printer, I would recommend printing a sample so that you don’t end up wasting any water slide paper. Grab a sheet of plain paper & write on it to identify which side you put facing up in the tray. Then print your sample page on that paper.
Cut your images out of the paper.
Place your wood squares, a bowl of water, and your printed cutouts on a work table.
Working with one cutout at a time, soak it in the water for 20-30 seconds. Then remove it from the water & place it on your wooden square. Once you have placed it on the wood square & adjusted it to the perfect location, carefully slide the white sheet out from below the image.
Use a soft cloth to wipe the excess water off of the square. Apply light pressure to the entire image to remove any water or air bubbles from underneath the image.
Allow the wooden squares to dry for 3-4 hours.
Use the clear finish spray paint to add a protective layer over the image
This is optional, but if you are making this game for a child, extra protection from wear & tear is advisable.
That’s it! You have made a darling Montessori game for a child in your life. It’s so quick & simple, not to mention cost-effective.
If you want to make multiple sets, take advantage of this limited-time bundle where you can select 5 downloads for the price of 1!
Tips & Tricks
I had some difficulty sliding the white backing paper out from behind the image. My solution was to partially slide the image off of the backing before I placed it. That would give me a place to hold the image steady while I slid the rest of the backing out.
One time I used my hand to apply pressure instead of the cloth. The image stuck to my hand, so DON’T do that.
If your image gets misaligned when you are sliding the backing out, quickly dip the entire wood square into your bowl. This allows your image to move more freely. Be sure to dab off all of the moisture.
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