Ten enjoyable memory activities to share with someone you love
Simple, score free ideas to enjoy together without testing anyone's memory
After a brain injury, time together can shrink to rides, appointments and reminders, and fun often drops away without anyone choosing it. One study followed people with moderate to severe brain injury for a year. By then, 81 percent had not returned to their old level of leisure, and TV was the new pastime named most often [1].
This article gives you ten activities to share with a partner, parent, friend or grown child who has memory problems. Each one comes with simple setup steps, ways to keep it relaxed, and a lighter version for low energy days.
The goal is a good time together. Some of these ideas give the person a chance to use their thinking skills, but they are not treatment, and they will not repair memory. Knowing that up front makes them easier to enjoy.
What shared activities can and cannot do
Recreation therapy uses games, music, art, exercise and outings to ease stress and help people connect with others [2]. The same building blocks work at home, and you do not need special supplies or training.
Getting back to the things you enjoy matters after an injury. In interviews, survivors who returned to their pastimes described better wellbeing, and support from other people was one of the things that helped them get there [3].
Be clear about the limits, though. A brain injury factsheet from a national research center says memory drills and brain training programs are of little real use for restoring memory [4]. A large review of music programs after brain injury found no strong evidence that they improve memory or attention [5]. In one trial, healthy adults aged 50 and older did jigsaw puzzles for an hour a day for 30 days. They got better at puzzles, but their thinking test scores did not improve more than a comparison group’s [6].
One long term study of healthy older adults in Scotland found that those who played games more often had less decline in thinking skills [7]. The study could not prove that the games caused this, and it did not look at brain injury [7]. For more on the research, see Can music, hobbies, or learning a new skill help? and Do brain games improve everyday memory after concussion?
Ground rules that keep it fun
The fastest way to spoil a shared activity is to turn it into a test. Questions like “Do you remember who this is?” put the person on the spot. If they cannot answer, the fun turns into worry.
Try these habits instead:
- Offer the memory yourself. Say “This is Grandpa at the lake in 2015. He caught the biggest fish that day.” The person can join in without having to recall anything.
- Skip the score. Leave the score pad in the drawer, or play games where you work as a team.
- Let the person choose. Give two options, such as “cards or music?” Two choices are easier to weigh than an open question.
- Cut the noise. Turn off the TV and silence phones. Distractions make thinking harder after a brain injury, and doing one task at a time helps [8].
- Fill gaps kindly. If they lose track of a step or a story, supply it and keep going. Leave out sighs and “I just told you.”
- Stop while it is still good. End on a pleasant note, before anyone is worn out.
Everyday reminders without testing are covered in How families can help without constantly testing someone’s memory.
Checklist from Safety Behind the Wheel Foundation
Before you start
- Pick a time of day when the person usually has the most energy
- Clear the table and turn off the TV
- Set out everything you need before you sit down
- Agree on a stop signal, such as a raised hand or the word “pause”
- Plan for 15 to 30 minutes, with a break halfway if needed
- Decide ahead of time that nobody keeps score
Activities 1 to 3: stories, songs and reading
1. Photo stories
Pick 15 to 20 photos from one time or one event, such as a wedding, a favorite vacation or a child’s early years. Fewer photos keep it calm. Sit side by side in good light.
Tell the story of each photo yourself, then pause so the person can add to it. If they add a detail, great, and if not, simply move on. You can write a short caption on a sticky note for each photo: who, where and the year.
Later, the captioned photos can go into an album the person can browse alone.
Tired day version: look at three photos and talk only about the one they like best.
2. A shared playlist
Make a playlist together around a theme. It could be songs from your high school years, your wedding, family road trips or one favorite singer. Each of you picks a few songs. Play them, sing along if you like, and talk about where you were when you first heard them.
Survivors quoted by one brain injury charity say music lifts their mood [9]. Some of its groups use familiar older songs to spark memories from before the injury [9]. Music can also stir strong feelings, so let tears or quiet moments happen [9].
Keep the volume low at first, since noise can be tiring. Tired day version: one or two songs with eyes closed and no need to talk.
3. Reading aloud and talking it over
Choose something short, like a news story, a poem or a page from a favorite book. Take turns reading a paragraph, or let one person read while the other listens.
Afterward, chat about what you liked. Skip “What happened in the first part?” because that is a quiz. Ask “What did you think of that?” instead.
Tired day version: listen to an audiobook or a radio show together.
Activities 4 to 6: games and puzzles without a scoreboard
4. Card and board games for fun
Familiar games are the easiest place to start, because after a brain injury, things learned long ago are often better kept than new learning [4]. Think of go fish, rummy, checkers or dominoes.
Write the main rules on an index card and keep it on the table, so nobody has to remember them. You can play with cards face up and help each other plan moves. Team games, where players win or lose together, work well too.
Tired day version: shuffle a deck and sort the cards by suit together while you talk.
5. A jigsaw puzzle that stays out
Choose a puzzle with big pieces and a picture you both like, and start with somewhere between 100 and 300 pieces. Set it up on a card table or a tray where it can stay out for days.
A puzzle suits memory problems well, because the picture itself shows where you left off. Sort the edge pieces first, then sort by color, and work on one corner at a time.
In the jigsaw study, some puzzlers had short lived back or shoulder aches [6]. Sit in a supportive chair at a table of good height, and get up every 15 minutes or so.
Tired day version: sort pieces by color while you chat, with no goal of finishing.
6. Word play as a team
Do a crossword or word search together, with one person holding the pen. Play a word game with no timer, such as naming foods that start with B. Give hints freely.
Make it a team effort against the puzzle, and if a word will not come, offer the first letter and laugh it off. Trouble finding words can happen after a brain injury [8]. A pause while the word comes back is fine.
Tired day version: read the clues aloud and let your partner enjoy solving them.
Activities 7 to 10: hands, outdoors and making things
7. Cooking a family favorite
Choose a recipe the person has made before. Write the steps in large print on one card, with a box to check after each step. Writing out each step of a task is a helpful habit for anyone with memory problems [8].
Set out all the ingredients and tools before you start. Do one step at a time, and say each step out loud. Ask the care team whether the stove, the oven and sharp knives are safe right now. Our guide to managing medicines and cooking with memory problems has more on kitchen safety.
Tired day version: skip the stove and build sandwiches, frost cookies, or make a fruit salad with soft fruit and a butter knife.
8. A short walk or small outing
As people ease back into daily life after a concussion, the CDC suggests relaxing activities such as a short walk with a friend [10]. Pick a short, flat route you can repeat. Give the walk a theme: count red doors, spot dogs, or take one photo of something that makes you smile.
When walking feels easy, try a small outing to a park bench, a garden center or a coffee shop at a slow hour. Check with the care team about balance, vision and how much activity is right. See How physical activity fits into concussion recovery for pacing.
Tired day version: sit on a porch or by a window and watch the world for ten minutes.
9. Growing something together
Plant herbs, tomatoes or flowers in pots on a table, so nobody has to kneel. Put a label in each pot with the plant’s name and the date you planted it.
Tape a simple watering chart to the fridge with a box for each day. The chart does the remembering, and the plants give you something to check on together. New leaves each week give you both something to look forward to.
Tired day version: sit outside together and water one pot.
10. Simple art and craft projects
Art is one of the tools recreation therapy uses [2]. Choose projects with clear steps and forgiving results. Coloring pages, paint by number, a simple birdhouse kit, a scrapbook page or a knitting pattern the person already knows all work.
Lay out supplies in the order you will use them. If one shared piece feels like pressure, work side by side on separate projects. Praise the effort and the fun, and let the finished look matter less.
Tired day version: color a page together while music plays.
Matching activities to energy levels
Fatigue ranks among the problems survivors report most often after a brain injury. Up to 70 percent of survivors report mental fatigue, and it can affect memory, mood, attention and free time [11].
Advice on fatigue after brain injury fits shared activities well [11]:
- Learn the early warning signs, such as irritability or losing focus, and stop before exhaustion sets in.
- Plan the harder activities for earlier in the day.
- Start with familiar tasks and add challenge slowly, over weeks or months.
- Build in rest breaks, and do not pack the day too full.
- Limit time with visitors who leave the person drained.
Other signs it is time to stop include yawning, rubbing eyes, more mistakes, a short temper or a headache. When you see them, use your stop signal, put things away and rest, even if you are only halfway through.
Comparison compiled by Safety Behind the Wheel Foundation
Ten activities at a glance
| Activity | What you need | Good length to start | Tired day version |
|---|---|---|---|
| Photo stories | 15 to 20 photos, sticky notes | 15 to 20 minutes | Three photos, talk about one |
| Shared playlist | Phone, radio or CD player | 15 minutes | One or two songs, no talking |
| Reading aloud | A short article, poem or chapter | 10 to 15 minutes | Audiobook or radio show |
| Card or board games | A familiar game, a rules card | One or two rounds | Shuffle and sort by suit |
| Jigsaw puzzle | 100 to 300 large pieces, a table | 15 minutes | Sort pieces by color |
| Word play | Crossword or word search, pencil | 10 to 15 minutes | Read clues, partner solves |
| Cooking | A known recipe on a step card | 30 minutes | Sandwiches or fruit salad |
| Walk or outing | Comfortable shoes, a theme | 10 to 20 minutes | Porch or window watching |
| Growing plants | Pots, soil, seeds, a water chart | 15 minutes | Water one pot |
| Art and crafts | Simple kit, supplies laid out | 20 minutes | Color a page with music |
Making it a habit you both look forward to
A shared activity works best when it shows up on the calendar. A brain injury factsheet for couples suggests booking a low cost date, such as a walk, a movie or a card game [12]. Treat it as seriously as a doctor visit [12]. The same idea works for a parent and grown child or for two friends.
A few ideas keep it fresh:
- Rotate between two or three favorites rather than trying something new every time.
- Let the survivor teach you a game or skill they know well. Being the expert again can feel good.
- Invite one more person now and then, such as a grandchild or an old friend. A small group where one person talks at a time is easier to follow than a crowd [8].
- Keep a short list on the fridge of what you both enjoyed, and pick from it when you plan the next one.
If you are the family member, this time can be a break from caregiving for you too.
When fun stops feeling fun
Sometimes nothing appeals anymore. After a brain injury, depression can show up as sadness, pulling away from people, low energy and less interest in activities [13]. Depression is not a weakness, and treatment can help [13]. If a loved one keeps turning down everything they used to enjoy, mention it to the care team.
If someone talks about suicide
the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline answers calls and texts at 988 at any hour. It is free and confidential [14]. If someone is in immediate danger, call 911.
Some changes are medical problems that need care right away. Call 911 or head to an emergency room if a headache keeps building and will not ease [15]. Do the same for new weakness or numbness, slurred speech, seizures or repeated vomiting, or if the person seems newly confused or does not know familiar people or places [15]. See the Concussion / TBI red flag checklist after an accident for more.
Questions to ask your care team
Question checklist from Safety Behind the Wheel Foundation
- Which of these activities are safe right now, given balance, vision and stamina?
- How long should we aim for at this stage, and when can we add more?
- Is the stove or a sharp knife safe to use, and with what kind of supervision?
- Could a recreational therapist or occupational therapist help adapt a hobby that matters to us?
- What early signs of fatigue should we watch for, and what should we do when we see them?
- Are there brain injury groups near us with music, art or social programs?
- If interest in activities has dropped off, could this be depression, and how do we check?
Frequently asked questions
Can memory activities bring back lost memories?
No research shows that games, puzzles or music restore memory after a brain injury [4, 5]. These activities are for enjoyment, comfort and time together. Some people find that familiar songs or photos bring up older memories, but nobody should count on it [9].
What activities are good for someone with memory loss after a brain injury?
Short, familiar, hands on activities usually work best. Photo stories, music, card games, simple cooking and short walks are easy to set up and easy to scale down on tired days. Pick what the person enjoyed before the injury, then make it simpler.
How do I stop quizzing someone during an activity?
Tell the memory instead of asking for it. Say “This was our trip to the coast” rather than “Where was this?” If the person adds a detail, welcome it, and if not, keep going.
How long should a shared activity last?
Start with 15 to 30 minutes and stop before tiredness builds. Mental fatigue is common after a brain injury, so short sessions with breaks usually go better than one long one [11].
Is it okay to keep score in games?
It depends on the person: if they love friendly competition and laugh off a loss, keep score. If losing brings frustration, play on the same team or leave the score out.
Are the memory games on this site a form of therapy?
No. The site’s memory practice game is meant for recreational and educational practice. It can be a pleasant thing to do together, but it does not treat memory problems.
The bottom line
Recommendation from Safety Behind the Wheel Foundation
Pick one activity from this list that the person you love already enjoys. Set it up for 15 minutes at their best time of day, and leave out quizzes and scores. Keep a tired day version ready, stop while it is still pleasant, and put the next session on the calendar.
Related articles
Sources and further reading
- 1Model Systems Knowledge Translation Center. “Impact of Traumatic Brain Injury on Participation in Leisure Activities” (summary of Wise EK and colleagues, Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation). MSKTC, 2010. msktc.org/…/impact-traumatic-brain-injur…
- 2U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. “Recreational Therapists.” Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2026. bls.gov/…/recreational-therapists.htm
- 3Headway. “Leisure participation after TBI explored in new research” (on Fountas, Ponsford and Downing, Disability and Rehabilitation, 2025). Headway, 2026. headway.org.uk/…/leisure-participation-after-…
- 4Hart T, Sander A. “Memory and Traumatic Brain Injury.” Model Systems Knowledge Translation Center (MSKTC), 2016. msktc.org/…/memory-and-traumatic-brain-i…
- 5Magee WL, Clark I, Tamplin J, Bradt J. “Music interventions for acquired brain injury.” Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, 2017. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/…/PMC6464962
- 6Fissler P, Kuster OC, Laptinskaya D, and colleagues. “Jigsaw Puzzling Taps Multiple Cognitive Abilities and Is a Potential Protective Factor for Cognitive Aging.” Frontiers in Aging Neuroscience, 2018. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/…/PMC6174231
- 7Altschul DM, Deary IJ. “Playing Analog Games Is Associated With Reduced Declines in Cognitive Function: A 68-Year Longitudinal Cohort Study.” Journals of Gerontology: Series B, 2020. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/…/PMC7021446
- 8Neumann D, Lequerica A. “Cognitive Problems After Traumatic Brain Injury.” Model Systems Knowledge Translation Center (MSKTC), 2020. msktc.org/…/cognitive-problems-after-tra…
- 9Headway. “Music after brain injury.” Headway, 2026. headway.org.uk/…/music-after-brain-injury
- 10Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. “What to Do After a Mild TBI or Concussion.” CDC, 2025. cdc.gov/…/response
- 11Bell KR. “Fatigue and Traumatic Brain Injury.” Model Systems Knowledge Translation Center, 2024. msktc.org/…/fatigue-and-traumatic-brain-…
- 12Model Systems Knowledge Translation Center. “Couples’ Relationships After Traumatic Brain Injury,” in TBI Factsheet Booklet, Edition 14. MSKTC, 2026. msktc.org/…/26-22005-TBI-Booklet-EN-Marc…
- 13Zwilling A, Sander A, Hanks R. “Changes in Emotion After Traumatic Brain Injury.” Model Systems Knowledge Translation Center, 2022. msktc.org/…/changes-emotion-after-trauma…
- 14988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. “988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline.” 2026. 988lifeline.org
- 15Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. “Symptoms of Mild TBI and Concussion.” CDC, 2025. cdc.gov/…/index.html
This article reflects the safety priorities of recreational therapy, occupational therapy and brain injury rehabilitation. It is general education, not medical advice. Check with your care team and official sources about your own situation. Reviewed October 2026.
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