Attention is the ability that allows us to focus oncertain stimuli while ignoring others, while memory is the ability that allows us to learn from experience and thus adapt to changing environments.Without these functions, we would not be who we are.

In the following, we introduce 10 worksheets that are ideal for neuropsychologists or occupational therapists to train attention and memory in both children and adults. We start with the worksheets for improving attention and memory in adults.

Worksheets for improving attention and memory in adults

1.   Select Items from a Category

This worksheet for improving attention and memory involves choosing a number of specific items among a group of stimuli. This activity is perfect for improving cognitive functions such as selective attention and semantic memory.

2.   Repeated Words

“Repeated words” is an ideal worksheet for training selective attention and working memory. As its name suggests, clients must identify all the words that appear on the worksheet more than once.

3.     Search for Consecutive Stimuli

This exercise for improving memory and attention involves looking for the given code among a group of stimuli. In the following example, whenever clients find the numbers 9 and 2 together in the box, they must mark them.

4.      Memorize the Order (open-time period)

In this activity, client adults must memorize the order of the images displayed and afterwards arrange them in the same manner. This exercise targets episodic memory.

Clients must memorize the order of the following images:

Now, they must place them in the boxes as they appeared in the image from memory:

5.   Matching Shapes

In this worksheet for improving attention, adults must find the matching shapes among various similar figures. This exercise is perfect for training selective attention.

Now, let’s introduce worksheets for improving attention and memory in children and teenagers:

Worksheets for improving attention and memory in children and teenagers

6.   Dot to Dot

This exercise for improving attention and memory in children involves connecting a sequence of numbered dots to create a drawing. This activity trains selective attention and semantic memory.

7.   Find the Different Picture

“Find the different picture” is an ideal worksheet for improving attention in children. They must identify the picture that is different from the others in a series, there by training processing speed and selective attention.

8.   Picture Maze

This activity for improving alternating attention and selective attention is designed for children to travel along a maze of pictures following various instructions while alternating from one figure to another:

This is how it should be done:

Would you have been able to do it?

9.   Common items

This worksheet for improving attention and memory in children involves selecting a number of specific items from among a group of stimuli.

10.          From smallest to largest

“From smallest to largest” is the last activity we are covering today. This exercise involves ordering a group of items in terms of size. In the following example, children must sort the pictures by size (from smallest to largest).This worksheet is available both in paper and digital format, and targets processing speed.