5 Ways to Use CONNETIX for Brain Gym

By Sarah Shan

Children’s brains grow quickly, and brain games are a fantastic way to support their development by strengthening skills such as memory, concentration, and problem-solving. Engaging specific areas of the brain through play can help children perform better in daily tasks.

MESH (Mental, Emotional and Social Health) toys, like CONNETIX, promote essential 21st-century skills, fostering growth through fun, engaging activities. CONNETIX’s alignment with the MESH initiative has earned MESH accreditation for five of their packs, making them a fantastic tool for building the 8 MESH skills and supporting the 4 Play Patterns.

These core MESH skills include:

Problem-Solving
Perseverance
Adaptation
Conflict Resolution
Self-Regulation
Self-Advocacy
Cognitive Skills
Communication Strategies

Brain games can support these skills by encouraging children to solve problems, persevere through challenges, adapt to new situations, self-regulate and to think critically. Here are 10 creative ways to use CONNETIX for brain games, especially focusing on problem-solving, perseverance, adaptation, self-regulation and cognitive skills.

1. Problem-Solving Activities

Odd One Out: Present a selection of tiles with images or shapes where one doesn’t fit the pattern. For example, three tiles show fruit, while one shows an ice cream. This game encourages children to identify patterns and discrepancies.
Missing Tile: Create a pattern and remove one tile, asking the child to determine which tile completes the sequence. They can either design the missing tile or choose from provided options.
Pattern Prediction: Set up a repeating pattern of tiles and have the child predict which tile would come next. This helps in recognising sequences and thinking ahead.

2. Perseverance Challenges

Finger Mazes: Arrange CONNETIX to form a maze that children can trace with their fingers. Start with one finger, then encourage them to try two fingers simultaneously. Progress to more complex maze designs, encouraging perseverance as they try to complete each path.
Finger Gym: Develop dexterity and coordination by creating colour patterns for each hand. For an added challenge, make it a timed or competitive activity.

3. Adaptation Exercises

Shape and Colour Matching: Using shape cards, challenge children to match them to sections on a tile grid. For added complexity, introduce multiple shapes or make it a timed exercise. This helps kids practice flexible thinking and adaptability.

4. Cognitive Skills Games

Memory Matching: Use tiles with drawings (like chalk pen doodles) turned face-down. Children turn over two tiles at a time to find matching pairs, building memory and recall.
Code-Breaking: Introduce a simple code or key, then have children select tiles in sequence according to the code. This enhances reasoning and problem-solving.

5. Self-Regulation Activities

Mandalas and Creative Prompts: Use CONNETIX to create calming mandalas or artistic patterns. Creative prompts can encourage mindfulness, helping children manage their emotions through self-expression.
Double Doodling: Ask children to draw on tiles with both hands at once, either replicating the same image or following finger maze patterns. This promotes focus and bilateral coordination.

These activities are ideal as quick brain breaks, morning starters or even family game night challenges with a scoreboard! They’re also wonderful for building communication, self-advocacy and conflict resolution skills.

Have more brain-training ideas? Share your creations with @connetix_tiles and @mylittlebrightsparks on Instagram – we’d love to see your innovative uses of CONNETIX!

Sarah Shan

A qualified Science Teacher and mum of 3, Sarah brings her educational knowledge and love of all things STEM to her articles, reviews and play ideas that she shares through her Instagram account.

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