“But there are compromises – for our wallets and our guilty consciences – if we know what we’re doing,” says Whitney Meyer of LearningRX San Antonio Northwest
Lynne and Whitney Meyer together own and operate LearningRx San Antonio Northwest. Both of them are Board Certified Cognitive Specialists and experts in the field of cognitive skills training.
Lynne Meyer is a retired reading specialist and administrator for more than 25 years, and her biggest frustration was seeing students who struggled, no matter how much extra support they were given. So, she took it upon herself to learn about how the brain processed information and discovered that if a student has weak cognitive skills, all the re-teaching she did would only make a small difference.
While her daughter, Whitney Meyer, was starting her M.A. in Educational Psychology, she discovered LearningRx cognitive training. She became a certified cognitive skills trainer for LearningRx in 2009 and has since helped hundreds of students and their families overcome learning struggles associated with ADHD, dyslexia, learning disabilities, and even traumatic brain injury.
“Here is the list of games in the “2021 Smart Mom’s Toy Box” that can boost these cognitive skills and are affordable classics that won’t push your gift buying ideas over budget that LearningRx – San Antonio Northwest recommends,” says Whitney.
Whitney also explains, “How these simple toys, when used properly, can help develop complex learning skills. Cognitive skills—like attention, auditory and visual processing, memory, logic & reasoning, and processing speed—are essential tools that help kids become better learners. Research now shows that learning skills can be trained – and therefore improved.”
- Alphabet Blocks or Scrabble Tiles ($6.99 on Amazon)
“Help develop analysis skills by using alphabet blocks to make up nonsense words starting with two to three blocks (or tiles). Pick a vowel and a consonant and create a nonsense word, then have the child remove one of the blocks and add a new one while verbally trying to figure out what the new nonsense word sounds like. Great consonant sounds to start with are /b/ as in cab, /m/ as in ram, /t/ as in cat, /k/ as in duck, /p/ as in cup. Start with four basic vowel sounds, /e/ as in Ed, /i/ as in it, /o/ as in on and /u/ as in up.”
“If they can’t read, just say the sounds for them and ask them to try to figure out from hearing the sounds what the new word would sound like when they switch the blocks. This builds phonemic awareness through sound blending and segmenting. And because this exercise is about sounds, not letter knowledge, parents should work with basic sounds and not use letter names, which can be confusing.”
- LEGO Bricks ($37.90 on Amazon)
“Use these building blocks and the accompanying pictures of completed projects to increase attention, logic, reasoning, and visual processing. In addition, parents can use a stopwatch to encourage a fast completion, which increases processing speed.” - How-to-draw Books ($7.99 on Amazon)
“These simple books are great for visual processing, attention to detail, and planning. They are available for a wide range of ages and skill levels.” - Speed Stack Cups ($10.99 on Amazon)
“This fun, simple game is good to build speed, planning, and eye-hand coordination.” - Old Maid ($3.95 on Amazon)
“Spread cards out face down and have children draw two at a time, looking for matches. Cards that don’t match are put back in the same location. This builds memory and attention.” - Jigsaw Puzzles ($14.99 on Amazon)
“Math, science, test-taking, and reading comprehension all require visualization skills. Puzzles are great tools to develop visual discrimination and logic, and reasoning. Puzzles also help build attention skills and come in a broad range of sizes, shapes, and designs—from a handful of pieces to advanced 3D puzzles.” - Playing Cards ($6.50 on Amazon)
“Time children while they sort cards into red and black piles, then challenge them to do it in a shorter time. Then make it more challenging by sorting them into three piles: red, black, and face cards. Keep raising the level of intensity by asking them to do it faster and by adding challenges, such as having them count by 2s or 3s while they’re sorting. This provides an excellent way to build divided attention and processing speed.” - Simon ($19.82 on Amazon)
“With this sound and light mimicking game, children can increase their sequential processing, short-term memory, attention, and visual processing.” - Soduku ($7.99 on Amazon)
“Available for children and teens of all ages, this numbers puzzle can strengthen deductive and intuitive reasoning, numerical fluency, planning, problem-solving, working memory, and sequential processing.” - Chess ($10.88 on Amazon)
“A classic brain game, chess helps with divided attention, executive processing, logic and reasoning, planning, and problem-solving.”
LearningRx – San Antonio Northwest
6222 De Zavala Rd #203, San Antonio, TX 78249
(210) 699-6463
