"Play - believe it or not, playing games helps your memory. Crossword puzzles, word searches, and other games help with information recall."
Source: http://www.bafound.org/support/strategy.php
"The old saying "use it or lose it" describes the aging memory. Some activities that are recommended for maintaining memory as one ages are crossword puzzles and word searches. Proper nutrition entails getting the correct amounts of vitamins, minerals, nutrients, and trace elements that the body needs as it ages. A good physical exercise program helps to maintain overall general health."
Source: http://www.uspharmacist.com/index.aspshow=article&page=8_1228.htm
The article below, is about a girl called Jennifer, who is a post-brain tumour survivor, who works on "word searches, puzzles and writing to people" to improve her memory! (ie. Posting to this site, is great for improving your memory!)
http://www.irsa.org/publications/BrainTalkV6_1.pdf#search='word%20searches%20%20short%20term%20memory'
As a teacher, I have always given my students word searches or puzzles to do, if they had finished their work or exams early, and had nothing to do. (Most do not feel like reading after doing a lot of intensive work.) One day, I saw a group of my students in the mall, and had just finished speaking to a woman in the mall, who was in her mid-90s, working hard on some word searches, in the mall eating center! With her consent, I called the students over, to meet and speak with her. She had just bought "another" word-search book from Wal-Mart, and said she works hard on these, to keep her mind sharp. And sharp she was!!! They were SOOOOOO impressed with her!!! She REALLY motivated us to keep up with these "brain puzzles"! As the saying goes, "You snooze....you lose!!! You don't use it....You lose it!!!"
Who would like to join me in the "CHALLENGE TO PLAY"???? (By this, I mean, set aside some time each day, or several times a week, to work on word searches, puzzles, etc.) You could even create your own, for you and your kids, at: http://www.puzzlemaker.com I have used this site a lot, as a teacher. It is easy, and fun to use!!! Kids LOVE creating their own word searches and solving them! (PS/ Make sure you proof-read the spelling words, before they print it off, so they do not reinforce wrong spelling.)
