Old age is unfair for some of us. Speaking from experience, in my late 40s coming to my 50s next year I already fighting my way for mobility due to severe back pain. The only thing I have to protect now is to care for my brain. I just hope my mind doesn't diminish over time before my time is up!
Those days, I could say online writing will be my best way to stay alert and but now I have to surrender to that. I am only able to write occasionally due to my disability to sit down on a chair for more than 15 minutes.
Realistically, I started to play games for brain training. My preference would be board games. Board games in general very popular among senior citizens because it is fun to play, and engaging since we have a sense of achievement once the game is completed. At the same time, increase brain function, assist in practising cognitive skills and also facilitates a bonding experience if you play with a friend or partner. I would say good for a kid's brain development too. Here are 6 free brain training games for seniors that will keep ageing brains sharp and stay alert.
1. Chess
To be honest, I don't play chess before I hit my retirement life. Before this, I hate any games that require me to think. But then, I read some studies have shown that chess seems to prevent Alzheimer's. It trains several parts of the brain and keeps memory to be analytical and thinking sharp. In short, it keeps your brain to stay alert.
A simple concept of online chess is you are trying to checkmate your opponent's king. At the same time, you have a responsibility to protect yours too.
One thing good about playing online chess is you can choose to play against the computer or if you have some friends to play with you, just select two players. You can even set the game difficulty level up to 3 stars when you play against the computer.
Ever play chess before? Don't worry, there are clear and simple instructions and guides for you.
2. Checkers
I would say that the checkers game is very simple and straightforward. All you need is to remove the opponent's pieces off the board and get maximum pieces from your opponent while following the rule. My personal choice, checkers is much easier compared to Chess.
Same like chess, playing checkers is another good brain exercise for senior citizens.
Same as Chess, you can choose to play single or multi-player. I usually play on the computer. It is fun to play when the visual design is an eye-pleaser and easy to navigate around.
3. Tic Tac Toe
Does anyone remember growing up with the Tic-Tac-Toe game on a piece of paper?
I do!
This is my favourite game during my childhood time. It looks like a child's play game but I would say tic-tac-toe is a game of predictability. Not only is it good for children to foster strategic thinking but also exercises the brain muscles of senior citizens.
At the calculator.org checker games section, you can choose to play more than the classic grid 3x3. Here they also give you options to choose between 5x5 and 7x7. I usually play 7x7 against the computer. It was so much fun.
4. Guess Who?
Guess who game is relatively new to me. I discover this upon exploring the website and hook with it. This game may sound not challenging for your smart brain at first. You will hook by this game after one play. The game is play is to choose a character and then begin to ask process-of-elimination questions at the bottom of the screen.
This game works on your thinking outside the box ability and getting creative in problem-solving.
5. Etch-A-Sketch
I dislike this game at first. Why? I don't know how to play. hahaha
I learn it from the website later on through its simple guides on how to play. Believe it or not, this game is invented in the late 1950s. You turn the toy's knobs, and you carve your drawing into aluminium powder.
Then after that, I realize this game is a sort of puzzle that requires thinking and gives simulates my brain to keep working. Among all the games I listed in this post, this is actually the hardest for me. Maybe, I still find it hard to understand the concept and objective of this game. Please don't laugh at me. 😆 But ironically, I feel thrilled whenever play this one. May it just be me. hahaha
6. Ladders
Some said this game is related to Karma because it involves chance given and consequences of every dice roll. This game in general is good to teach children basic moral values. As a senior citizen, other than as a good pass time online game, you can play this game and feel a sense of accomplishment at the end of the game.
Well, at least these are my preferred online games. You can choose yours because many other free games for you to choose in this website. If you notice most of the games here are something familiar since some of it is the games you grow up playing it. If you visit the homepage of this website, you could explore other tabs too. My other favourite is Math where I can train my mind with simple math solving. To name a few other is Music and Word. The All-in-one website is free to use and easy to navigate. As I mentioned in my earlier post, I have a problem sitting too long in front of the computer. So, the advantage of this website is I can choose to play on my mobile or tablet at my most convenient position.
Playing games is part of brain muscle training. Don't forget to exercise to train the muscles in other parts of your body too.