Wednesday, June 17, 2009

Smelly Concentration

You've played the game of concentration before, right? Where you take turns trying to match up hidden pictures from memory?

Well here's a fun twist on the game for small children--a smelling version.

Using Dixie cups and cotton balls you put different scents (in pairs) in the cups and let the kids try to match them up. I've found it helpful to write the name of the smell on the bottom of the cup in case you forget what it is you've used.

Here are some good ideas for odors:

perfume
peppermint, vanilla, almond, butter, cinnamon or coconut extracts
Lysol, ammonia or bleach
vinegar, olive oil, garlic or lemon juice
gasoline

Use your imagination and your nose to come up with fun stuff to sniff then see how many kids can match and how many they can identify.

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24 comments:

Jennifer said...

This sounds like it would be fun for people of all ages. Though, I'd recommend a cup of coffee beans so people can clear their noses and still recognize new scents. Someone at a perfume counter once told me that the nose can only process 3 new scents at a time.

carrhop said...

Love this idea--particularly for kids building vocabulary. We did a similar game for 4 of 8 for learning texture words and flavor words. I have a feeling I'll be breaking out those Dixie cups for this one as well! Thanks!

Blessings!

Anonymous said...

I like this idea, but I don't think bleach, ammonia, or gasoline would be appropriate to use. Does anyone else feel the same way?

Unknown said...

I love this idea! Maybe it is a memory game I can actually beat my 5-yr-old daughter at. The regular Concentration? Forget it.

Sixth and Elm said...

You could use more exotic extracts and give bonus points if they can ID the scent too, once they match it.

Lunch Buckets said...

Huffing for toddlers?

Tammy said...

Very neat idea, but um...gasoline? and other chemicals? Eeks!

tjhirst said...

This is actually very clever. Thanks. Maybe I'll even pull it out this summer.

But I agree with the bleach and ammonia comments.

Have to use prudence, right?

Scribbit said...

Well I guess I should have put a note of caution not to drench the cotton balls. You'd just need enough of the product for a bit of a smell--bleach and gasoline are pretty strong of course. You're not trying to get them high on anything :)

The Dunns said...

What a cute idea. I wonder if my boys could create something explosive if they managed to spill it all at once (as they are SO good at doing). They would love that!

CountessLaurie said...

great idea ... thanks for sharing.

AlaskaLark said...

This is a really good idea although I must protest the huffing of dangerous chemicals in any concentration.

Anonymous said...

I love that idea but I love those dixie cups even more! So dang cute.

Be Brave, Keep Going said...

what a wonderful twist on an old favorite!

Catherine said...

I agree with those who are concerned about chemicals and such!

However, I think this is a great idea. It could be a really good way to develop a child's sense of smell and identify any olfactory deficiencies early on!

sweetlifeinthevalley said...

Fun party idea for the tween teen group We will have to include it in a party we are having in Aug.

Mandy said...

Great idea! I'm doing this!

Just Mom said...

I love this idea! I would probably stick with food smells like the extracts, vinegar, olive oil, garlic, etc., just because I love them myself. :-D

Daisy said...

You can do the same with sound if you have small containers with lids. In the days of film cameras, film canisters were perfect.

Little GrumpyAngel said...

Awesome idea! I think I'll share this with friends with small kids.

Diane said...

I agree with others.
Great idea if you 86 the hazardous materials even in dilute form, I wouldn't want children exposed.

Omah's Helping Hands said...

What a great idea. Would have never thought of something like that. It made me think of doing it with feeling things as well. We had taken boxes over things to feel for halloween one year, but having to match them up, that could prove to be fun too. Thanks Michelle

HomeGrownMommy said...

Now that is a very interesting twist to an age-old game! We've twisted lots of games for different purposes such as bingo and memory - but this one is very different. I'll have to try it very soon!

Lori said...

How fun! I bet you could do it with blindfolds and herbs, too!