Week 5 Cognitive Engagements

Cognitive Engagements of the Day

Remember it is not important whether theses activities are easy or difficult.

What matters is the participant goes through the steps. Throughout the week

they will engage in numerous cognitive processes that will help

build and strengthen their cognitive reserve and increase neuro-plasticity.

TIP: Before beginning each Cognitive Engagement, look to the right and then to the right without moving the head. Science suggests this movement increases problem-solving ability.

Cognitive Engagement

Kit Supplies Needed:

none

Instructions:

• Name 10 things you hope you never have to smell again.
• Name 10 things that you love to smell.
• For the things you love to smell, when was the last time you smelled them?
• Where were you and who were you with?

Comments:

Cognitive Engagement

Kit Supplies Needed:

Pick up Sticks

Instructions:

• Spread the sticks on the table.
• Close your eyes and pick up one stick.
• Open your eyes.
• Name something that is the color you picked.
• Repeat until all the sticks have been chosen.

Comments:

Other options:

• Repeat but name something that would NOT be the color you picked.
• Pick up any 2 or more sticks.
• Name something that has all those colors in or on them.

Cognitive Engagement

Kit Supplies Needed:

2 towels

Instructions:

• Towels Roll one towel as tightly as you can.
• Hold your left hand up and spread your fingers open.
• Using your right hand only, intertwine the towel between each finger on your left hand.
• Squeeze the towel 9 times.
• Bend your fingers as tightly around the towel as you can.
• Pull the towel out with your right hand as you silently count to 6.
• Repeat using the opposite hand.

Comments:

This may be difficult if arthritis or other joint issues are present. Do the best you can without harming yourself.

Cognitive Engagement

Kit Supplies Needed:

Baking Cups

Ink Pen (see below for color)

Instructions:

• Choose a pen that is a different color than the top baking cup
• Without taking the stack of baking cups apart, use the pen to draw a line inside each crease of the baking cup
• Throw away only the baking cup you drew in

Comments:

Make sure the stack remains intact. You will need these for another activity later.

Cognitive Engagement

Kit Supplies Needed:

Rubber bands

Instructions:

•  Extend your arm in front of you as far as you comfortably can
• Dump all the bands on the table in a pile.
• With your dominant hand pick out one large band.
• Lay it as far to the right as you can reach comfortably.
• Use your nondominant hand pick up a small band.
• Put it inside the large band with your nondominant hand.
• Work from right to left.
• Continue this process until you use all the bands you can.

Comments:

Repeat this process but switch hands in the directions.

Cognitive Engagement

Nostalgia, Notes & Neurons

Cognitive Engagement

Nostalgia, Notes & Neurons

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