Mini Minds Hub · Free printable
Memory Card Template: Free Printable Card Set for Reception
- ForReception
- StageEarly Years
- CostFree
- FormatPrintable PDF
Memory Card Template is a free printable card set for Reception (ages 4 to 5). Children draw their own matching pairs, cut the cards out with a grown-up and then play the memory game. It takes about 10 minutes, needs only paper and a pencil, and page 2 gives the grown-up notes, help for children who find it hard and a stretch idea.
It comes from the Mini Minds Hub, the free library of printables from Jaques of London, the British games and toy company that has been making games for families since 1795. Print both pages, give page 1 to your child and keep page 2 for yourself. Black and white printing works well.
What is on the sheet
This is a card set, so children make the game before they play it. The sheet has spaces marked Pair 1 to Pair 6, and each one says draw here. Children draw a simple picture for each pair, then make its matching partner. A grown-up helps to cut the cards out. Then the cards go face down and the game begins.
- Pair 1: draw here
- Pair 2: draw here
- Pair 3: draw here
- Pair 4: draw here
- Pair 5: draw here
- Pair 6: draw here
How to make your cards
Choose simple pictures
Pick things that are easy to draw and easy to tell apart, such as a sun, a fish or a star. Bold colours and clear shapes help pairs stand out.
Draw each pair carefully
Pairs only work if the two cards look the same. Encourage your child to look back at the first picture while they draw the second.
Cut out with a grown-up
A grown-up helps with cutting. Children can hold the paper steady, and point to where the cuts should go.
Check every pair
Lay the cards face up first. Ask your child to find each match and say what makes the two cards the same.
Why a memory game suits Reception
Memory games are a classic for young children. To play, a child has to look closely, hold a picture in mind and recall where they saw it. Matching pairs also asks them to notice what is the same and what is different. These are everyday thinking habits, and a game gives children a good reason to practise them.
Making the cards adds something extra. Drawing a picture twice takes patience and careful looking. Playing with others then brings in turn taking, waiting and being pleased for a friend. In the Early Years Foundation Stage, children learn through play and talk, so a game they have made themselves fits well.
Skills and curriculum link
- Memory
- Matching
- Drawing
- Turn taking
- Talking about choices
This sheet supports the area below. It is matched to the published England framework. Please check it against your own school plan.
| Framework | Subject or area | Strand | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Early Years Foundation Stage | Personal, Social and Emotional Development | Building Relationships | Reception |
What children will be able to do
- I can make matching pairs of cards.
- I can remember where a card is.
- I can take turns with a friend.
Ideas for helping your child
- Talk before you drawAsk your child what they would like to draw and why. Saying the idea aloud helps them hold it in mind and plan the picture.
- Name the picturesWhen you turn a card over, say what is on it. Naming a picture out loud makes it easier to remember later.
- Use landmarksHelp your child describe where a card is, such as next to the corner or in the top row. Talking about position gives memory something to hold on to.
- Make waiting easyTurn taking is hard at this age. Say whose turn it is, and let the waiting player help watch the cards.
Key words
- PairTwo things that go together because they are the same.
- MatchWhen two cards look the same, they match.
- MemoryRemembering something you saw or heard.
- TurnYour go in a game. Then the next person has a go.
- CardA small piece of stiff paper with a picture on it.
- Face downWith the picture hidden underneath.
How to use it
- Print both pages. Page 1 is for your child. Keep page 2, which has notes, help and a stretch idea.
- Look at the spaces marked Pair 1 to Pair 6. Talk about which pictures your child would like to draw. Choose bold colours and simple shapes.
- Let your child draw each picture and its partner. A grown-up helps with cutting out the cards.
- Turn the cards face down. Take turns to flip two at a time. Keep a pair if they match, and turn them back if they do not.
- Come back to the game another day. Repeating a familiar game builds confidence, and you can make new pairs each time.
Help, stretch and game ideas
If it feels too hard
Start with only three pairs, which is six cards. Keep the cards face up for the first go and find the matches together. When your child feels ready, turn them face down. Play with one other person so the game stays calm and short.
To stretch confident children
Make more pairs. Or make a different kind of pair, where one card shows a number and the other shows that many dots. Your child can then match each number to its dots while playing the memory game.
Make it a game
Turn the cards face down and spread them out. Take turns to flip two cards. If they match, keep the pair. If not, turn them back. One to three players can join in. The player with the most pairs wins.
Talk about it
- Which picture did you choose first, and why?
- How can you tell that two cards match?
- Where do you think that card is hiding?
- What helps you remember where a card is?
- How do you know whose turn it is?
- What picture would you like to draw for a new pair?
Take it off the page
Pairs from home
Collect some pairs of things from around the house, such as two socks or two spoons. Cover them with a cloth, show one for a moment and ask your child to find its partner.
Toy tray game
Put a few toys on a tray and let your child look for a short time. Cover the tray, take one toy away and ask which one has gone.
Draw and swap
Draw a picture on two pieces of paper with your child. Give one to each person and take turns to hold it up, so the other person can say if it matches.
Who it is for
Parents
Sit beside your child for the first game and let them lead. Short bursts work best. Help with the cutting, praise careful drawing and thinking, and keep the game relaxed so waiting for a turn feels fun.
Teachers
Use it as a table activity, a starter, or an early finisher task. Children can make cards in one session and play in pairs or small groups later. It supports Building Relationships in Personal, Social and Emotional Development. Check it against your own planning.
Home educators
Print it as part of a wider early years plan alongside books, outdoor play and everyday talk. The cards can be made again with new pictures, and brothers and sisters can join in the game. Keep the cards in an envelope for next time.
Where this fits in learning
Before this, children play simple matching and sorting games with real objects. They also learn to look closely at pictures and talk about what is the same and what is different. Taking turns with a grown-up in short games is a good first step too.
After this, children can try games with more cards, or with harder matches such as a number and its dots. They can also invent rules for their own games and explain them to others. These skills lead on towards more independent play and more careful thinking.
Check it worked
Ask these when the sheet is finished. Listen for the reasoning, not just the answer.
- Which pairs did you make?
- How did you remember where the card was?
- How did you decide whose turn it was?
Questions parents and teachers ask
- What age is the Memory Card Template for?
It is written for Reception, which is ages 4 to 5, in the Early Years Foundation Stage. Younger children can join in with a grown-up, and older children can make more pairs for a harder game.
- How long does it take?
It takes about 10 minutes. Drawing the pairs and playing a round fit into that time. Children often want to play again, so you can come back to the cards on another day.
- Do children need to cut the cards out themselves?
No. A grown-up helps with cutting. Children can hold the paper steady, point to where the cuts should go and then take over the fun part, which is playing the game.
- How many people can play?
One to three players can play. A single player can match pairs alone. With two or three players, children take turns to flip two cards and keep a pair if they match.
- What if my child finds it hard?
Start with only three pairs, which is six cards. Play with the cards face up first, then turn them face down when your child is ready. Keep the game short and friendly.
- Do I need to print in colour?
No. It prints well in black and white on plain A4 paper. Children can add colour with pencils or crayons. Bold colours and simple pictures make the pairs easier to see.
- Is this suitable for classroom use?
Yes. Teachers can use it as a table activity, starter or early finisher task. It needs no preparation beyond printing. It is a practice and play activity that supports classroom learning, not a replacement for it.
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Made by Jaques of London, making games for families since 1795. A printable supports classroom learning and does not replace a teacher.