BRAIN INJURY ASSOCIATION OF NORTH CAROLINA

BRAIN
GAMES
Printable activities for brain
stimulation after brain injury

LOOKING TO KEEP
YOUR MIND ACTIVE?

SODUKO MAZE WORD SEARCH LOOK OUT DESIGN IN MIND

BRAIN GAMES CREATED MARCH 2020

COGNITIVE GAMES
Cognition is a complex system of thought that is made up of how

you think and process information. It may include attention (being

able to focus), concentration (focus for a period of time),

memory, learning, language (or communication), solving

problems, making decisions, and appropriate social skills.

Individuals living with brain injury might have long-lasting

difficulties related to the way they think and communicate. Some

individuals may have access or seek out rehabilitation to enhance

their cognitive skills through repetition or to help develop

strategies to compensate for areas that may have been affected

by brain injury. Oftentimes it takes a strong support system,

rewards, determination, and patience to make the gains that

help individuals thrive where they live and in their community.

Cognitive games such as these should not be used in place of

professional therapies or cognitive rehabilitation, but rather to

provide stimulation and exercises to people with brain injury and

their families.

LEVELS OF DIFFICULTY
The games in this booklet range from the least Select activities that you feel might be

challenging, Level 1 to higher levels that are appropriate or are interested in and follow the

progressively more challenging. Levels are directions at the top of each page. There are

indicated at the top of each page using the key options for increasing the level of difficulty

below. within the brain game or you can progress to the

next level of difficulty.

Level 1: Easier

You can use this booklet in many ways! As a

whole booklet to work through or as individual

Level 2: Somewhat more challenging

pages. You can work on several games each day

Level 3: More challenging or once a day, shifting the type of games to

provide variety.

For the keys to the Brain Games and more cognitive

exercises, visit www.bianc.net under the Brain Blog!

 BRAIN GAMES
SODUKO #1

Instructions : Use numbers 1-4, without repeating in each square (there are 4

"squares" completing the grid, each with 4 smaller units). Check your answers by

making sure there are no duplicates in each row and column. For extra difficulty,

2 3
try timing yourself and do the puzzle again, trying to beat your time.

1 4
3 2
4 1
Fun fact : Though playing brain games may not statistically improve your

cognition  (i.e. memory, thinking), it encourages cognitive stimulation. Visual

scanning, numerical processing, manual dexterity, problem solving, and attention

are all going on with one game!

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 BRAIN GAMES
SODUKO #1 KEY

Instructions : Use numbers 1-4, without repeating in each square (there are 4

"squares" completing the grid, each with 4 smaller units). Check your answers by

making sure there are no duplicates in each row and column. For extra difficulty,

4 2 3 1
try timing yourself and do the puzzle again, trying to beat your time.

1 3 2 4
3 1 4 2
2 4 1 3
Fun fact : Though playing brain games may not statistically improve your

cognition  (i.e. memory, thinking), it encourages cognitive stimulation. Visual

scanning, numerical processing, manual dexterity, problem solving, and attention

are all going on with one game!

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 BRAIN GAMES
SODUKO #2

Instructions : Use numbers 1-4, without repeating in each square (there are 4

"squares" completing the grid, each with 4 smaller squares). Check your answers

by making sure there are no duplicates in each row and column. For extra

2 4 3 1
difficulty, try timing yourself and do the puzzle again, trying to beat your time.

3 1 4 2
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 BRAIN GAMES
SODUKO #2 KEY

Instructions : Use numbers 1-4, without repeating in each square (there are 4

"squares" completing the grid, each with 4 smaller squares). Check your answers

by making sure there are no duplicates in each row and column. For extra

2 4 3 1
difficulty, try timing yourself and do the puzzle again, trying to beat your time.

1 3 2 4
4 2 1 3
3 1 4 2
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 BRAIN GAMES
SODUKO #3

Instructions : Use numbers 1-9, without repeating in each square (there are 9

"squares" completing the grid). Check your answers by making sure there are no

duplicates in each row and column. For extra difficulty, try timing yourself and

7 4 9 8 6 1 2
do the puzzle again, trying to beat your time. Accessed on Sudoku.com.

6 8 2
9 7 6
8 4 1 9 3
1 7 6 5 2
4 9 5 8
8 3 4 9
3 8
9 6 1
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 BRAIN GAMES
SODUKO #3 KEY

Instructions : Use numbers 1-9, without repeating in each square (there are 9

"squares" completing the grid). Check your answers by making sure there are no

7 3 4 5 9 8 6 1 2
duplicates in each row and column. Accessed on Sudoku.com.

6 8 5 1 3 2 7 4 9
2 1 9 7 6 4 3 5 8
5 6 8 4 2 7 1 9 3
1 9 7 6 8 3 5 2 4
3 4 2 9 1 5 8 7 6
8 7 1 3 4 9 2 6 5
4 5 3 2 7 6 9 8 1
9 2 6 8 5 1 4 3 7
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 BRAIN GAMES
SODUKO #4

Instructions: Use numbers 1-9, without repeating in each square (there are 9

"squares" completing the grid). Check your answers by making sure there are no

duplicates in each row and column. For extra difficulty, try timing yourself and

3
do the puzzle again, trying to beat your time. Accessed on Sudoku.com.

4 7
4 2 1 3 9
1 9 8
3 7 8 2 1
4 5 1 8 7
1 4 2
1 3 7 4
2 5 7 9 8 3
9 3 7 2
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 BRAIN GAMES
SODUKO #4 KEY

Instructions: Use numbers 1-9, without repeating in each square (there are 9

"squares" completing the grid). Check your answers by making sure there are no

8 3 2 6 4 9 1 5 7
duplicates in each row and column. Accessed on Sudoku.com.

7 4 5 8 2 1 3 9 6
1 9 6 3 7 5 2 8 4
3 7 8 2 9 6 4 1 5
4 2 9 5 1 8 7 6 3
5 6 1 4 3 7 9 2 8
6 1 3 7 8 2 5 4 9
2 5 7 9 6 4 8 3 1
9 8 4 1 5 3 6 7 2
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 BRAIN GAMES
SODUKO #5

Instructions : Use numbers 1-9, without repeating in each square (there are 9

"squares" completing the grid). Check your answers by making sure there are no

duplicates in each row and column. For extra difficulty, try timing yourself and

5 1 7 9 4
do the puzzle again, trying to beat your time. Accessed on Sudoku.com.

2 7 6 3
6 8 5
8 6 4
5 3
9 2
7 8 9
6 2 9
4 5 8 1 6
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 BRAIN GAMES
SODUKO #5 KEY

Instructions : Use numbers 1-9, without repeating in each square (there are 9

"squares" completing the grid). Check your answers by making sure there are no

5 2 7 9 4 6 1 3 8
duplicates in each row and column. Accessed on Sudoku.com.

8 9 4 1 3 5 2 7 6
1 6 3 7 2 8 9 4 5
3 8 2 6 9 4 7 5 1
4 7 5 8 1 2 6 9 3
9 1 6 3 5 7 4 8 2
7 3 8 2 6 9 5 1 4
6 5 1 4 7 3 8 2 9
2 4 9 5 8 1 3 6 7
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 BRAIN GAMES
MAZE #1

Instructions : Use your pen or pencil to travel through the maze. For those with

paralysis or verbal communication, use the guide below and have helper navigate

the maze with you. Help the dog walker find the pets he's lost before their owners

find out!

Start

Up

Right

Down

Finish

Left

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 BRAIN GAMES
MAZE KEY #1

Instructions : Use your pen or pencil to travel through the maze. For those with

paralysis or verbal communication, use the guide below and have helper navigate

the maze with you. Help the dog walker find the pets he's lost before their owners

find out!

Start

Up

Right

Down

Finish

Left

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 BRAIN GAMES
MAZE #2

Instructions: Your brain communicates with the rest of your body using tiny jolts

of electricity that travel through the brain. Use your pen or pencil to travel

through the brain maze. For extra difficulty, can you name the 4 lobes within

each hemisphere of the brain? Look up their functions or what each one controls.

Start

Finish

Accessed on zookyworld.wordpess.com & Pipette Kids

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 BRAIN GAMES
MAZE KEY #2

Instructions: Your brain communicates with the rest of your body using tiny jolts

of electricity that travel through the brain. Use your pen or pencil to travel

through the brain maze. For extra difficulty, can you name the 4 lobes within

each hemisphere of the brain? Look up their functions or what each one controls.

Start

Finish

Accessed on zookyworld.wordpess.com & Pipette Kids

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 BRAIN GAMES
WORDSEARCH #1

Instructions : Use the key below to find the words in the search box. They may be

horizontal (left to right), vertical (up and down), or diagonal. With word searches

you are visually scanning, processing letters, pattern searching, and more!

desseccA
no
moc.tnirp-ot-selzzup

Black Green Red

Blue Orange White

Brown Pink Yellow

For extra difficulty, try to name/list as many things as you can that are that color.

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 BRAIN GAMES
WORDSEARCH #1 KEY

Instructions : Use the key below to find the words in the search box. They may be

horizontal (left to right), vertical (up and down), or diagonal. With word searches

you are visually scanning, processing letters, pattern searching, and more!

desseccA
no
moc.tnirp-ot-selzzup

Black Green Red

Blue Orange White

Brown Pink Yellow

For extra difficulty, try to name/list as many things as you can that are that color.

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 BRAIN GAMES
WORDSEARCH #2

Instructions : Use the key below to find the words in the search box. They may

be horizontal (left to right), vertical (up and down), or diagonal. For extra

difficulty, what do all these words have in common?

desseccA
no
moc.noitacude

Foggy Cloudy Cold Freezing

Sunny Windy Warm Mild

Rainy Partly Hot

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 BRAIN GAMES
WORDSEARCH #2 KEY

Instructions : Use the key below to find the words in the search box. They may

be horizontal (left to right), vertical (up and down), or diagonal. For extra

difficulty, what do all these words have in common?

desseccA
no
moc.noitacude

Foggy Cloudy Cold Freezing

Sunny Windy Warm Mild

Rainy Partly Cloudy Hot

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 BRAIN GAMES
WORDSEARCH #3

Instructions : Use the key below to find the words in the search box. They may

be horizontal (left to right), vertical (up and down), or diagonal. Haven't heard

some of these words? Be sure to look them up to learn more about your brain!

detaerC
no
moc.hcraesdrow

Brain Adapt Attention Movement Action

Cerebellum Vision Language Thought Process

Neuron Memory Senses Emotion Lobes

For extra difficulty, can you find two brain words in the puzzle that are not listed?

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 BRAIN GAMES
WORDSEARCH#3 KEY

Instructions : Use the key below to find the words in the search box. They may

be horizontal (left to right), vertical (up and down), or diagonal. Haven't heard

some of these words? Be sure to look them up to learn more about your brain!

detaerC
no
moc.hcraesdrow

Brain Adapt Attention Movement Action

Cerebellum Vision Language Thought Process

Neuron Memory Senses Emotion Lobes

For extra difficulty, can you find two brain words in the puzzle that are not listed?

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 BRAIN GAMES
LOOK OUT # 1

Instructions : The key below shows how many items you can find in the I Spy

Image. Use different colors, circling, or cross off items as you find them. This

activity works on visual scanning, processing, differentiation, and more!

Key

Chair Umbrella Fish Ball

Anchor Bucket Sailboat Crab

For extra difficulty or challenges with aphasia, can you identify or name all the objects above? 

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 BRAIN GAMES
LOOK OUT # 1 KEY

Instructions : The key below shows how many items you can find in the I Spy

Image. Use different colors, circling, or cross off items as you find them. This

activity works on visual scanning, processing, differentiation, and more!

Cloud Ball Hat Tree Umbrella

Chair Fish Snail Shell Crab

Turtle Flip flops Sun Lotion/sunscreen Dolphin

Bird Bucket Sailboat Anchor

Kayak

Key

Chair Umbrella Fish Ball

Anchor Bucket Sailboat Crab

For extra difficulty or challenges with aphasia, can you identify or name all the objects above? 

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 BRAIN GAMES
LOOK OUT # 2

Instructions : The key below shows how many items you can find in the I Spy

Image. Use different colors, circling, or cross off items as you find them. This

activity works on visual scanning, processing, differentiation, and more!

moc.ngisedliartrepap
no
desseccA

For extra difficulty, can you identify the object not listed above? 

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 BRAIN GAMES
LOOK OUT # 2 KEY

Instructions : The key below shows how many items you can find in the I Spy

Image. Use different colors, circling, or cross off items as you find them. This

activity works on visual scanning, processing, differentiation, and more!

moc.ngisedliartrepap
no
desseccA

For extra difficulty, can you identify the object not listed above? 

Bee

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 BRAIN GAMES
LOOK OUT #3

Instructions : The key below shows how many items you can find in the I Spy

Image. Use different colors, circling, or cross off items as you find them. This

activity works on visual scanning, processing, differentiation, and more!

moc.ngisedliartrepap
no
desseccA

For extra difficulty, can you identify the object not listed above? 

w w w . b i a n c . n e t | ( 9 1 9 ) 8 3 3 - 9 6 3 4 | b i a n c @ b i a n c . n e t
 BRAIN GAMES
LOOK OUT #3 KEY

Instructions : The key below shows how many items you can find in the I Spy

Image. Use different colors, circling, or cross off items as you find them. This

activity works on visual scanning, processing, differentiation, and more!

moc.ngisedliartrepap
no
desseccA

For extra difficulty, can you identify the object not listed above? 

Bicycle

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 BRAIN GAMES
DESIGN IN MIND #1

Instructions : Color the image below however you would like. Take this time to

relax or reflect on your thoughts, emotions, and actions during the day.

Mindfulness coloring is a strategy to help clear ones mind or stay in the present.

The colors you use or words you think can have meaning or just be ones you enjoy.

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 BRAIN GAMES
DESIGN IN MIND #2

Instructions : Color the image below however you would like. Take this time to

relax or reflect on your thoughts, emotions, and actions during the day.

Mindfulness coloring is a strategy to help clear ones mind or stay in the present.

The colors you use or words you think can have meaning or just be ones you enjoy.

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 BRAIN GAMES
DESIGN IN MIND #3

Instructions : Color the image below however you would like. Take this time to

relax or reflect on your thoughts, emotions, and actions during the day.

Mindfulness coloring is a strategy to help clear ones mind or stay in the present.

The colors you use or words you think can have meaning or just be ones you enjoy.

Fun fact : Coloring  has the ability to relax the fear center of your brain, the

amygdala. It induces the same state as meditating by reducing the thoughts of a

restless mind. This generates  mindfulness  and quietness, which allows your mind

to get some rest after a long day at work, school, or rehabilitation.

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