Brain Stimulation at Home
Looking to keep your mind active?
Cognition is a complex system of thought that is made up of how you think and process information. It may include attention (being able to focus), concentration (focus for a period of time), memory, learning, language (or communication), solving problems, making decisions, and appropriate social skills. Individuals living with brain injury might have long-lasting difficulties related to the way they think and communicate. Some individuals may have access or seek out rehabilitation to enhance their cognitive skills through repetition or to help develop strategies to compensate for areas that may have been affected by brain injury. Oftentimes it takes a strong support system, rewards, determination, and patience to make the gains that help individuals thrive where they live and in their community.
New Brain Games Booklet
The Brain Injury Association of North Carolina has created a Brain Games Booklet for individuals living with brain injury (or those looking for some stimulation & games)! Games include Sudoku, Mazes, Word Searches, I Spy's, and Coloring pages to stimulate attention, motor skills, visual scanning, processing, relaxation, and more!
Please note that cognitive games such as these should not be used in place of professional therapies or cognitive rehabilitation, but rather to provide stimulation and exercises to people with brain injury and their families.
Levels of Difficulty
The games in this booklet range from the least challenging, Level 1 to higher levels that are progressively more challenging. Levels are indicated at the top of each page using the key in the booklet.
Select activities that you feel might be appropriate or are interested in and follow the directions at the top of each page. There are options for increasing the level of difficulty within the brain game or you can progress to the next level of difficulty.
You can use this booklet in many ways! As a whole booklet to work through or as individual pages. You can work on several games each day or once a day, shifting the type of games to provide variety.
Download the Booklet
Online Resources
There are other types of activities and games online! Check them out as well and let us know if you another resource to share with others.
Other Engaging Options
One possible solution to combat cancellations and isolation is to try virtual tours of the museums, galleries, landmarks, etc. Of course, the experience will not be entirely the same, but the sense of learning through exploration is still there. In addition, many locations utilize interactive platforms for students to truly immerse themselves in the information. Engaging options include Guggenheim Museum, The MoMA, The Louvre, Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History, the NASA Space Center in Houston, a moon tour via Google Earth, and any number of zoo cams around the world. The Temple University Collaborative also suggests:
- Play virtual board games with friends here
- Explore Google Arts and Culture here
- Participate in Lunch Doodles with Mo Willems here
- Learn a new language with Duolingo here
- Explore the wonders of space with NASA here
- Enjoy a performance from Theatre without Theater here
- Get fit with online YMCA classes here
- Find a new book with Goodreads here
- Try out a yoga session for individuals with brain injury here
- Listen to some meditation guidance here