Memory Puzzles is Back with a Healthy Twist: Fruits and Veggies

Memory Puzzles is a multi-card tactile matching game fitted with both print and braille labels. The first edition Memory Puzzles: Shapes (available in both English and Spanish), helped countless students−both in and out of the classroom−foster memory and matching skills, practice problem-solving, and engage in tactile learning. This newest edition, Memory Puzzles: Fruits and Veggies, keeps these core learning skills at the top of the priority list, while expanding the opportunities for learning to a whole new world.   

Purposeful Design 

Memory Puzzles: Fruits and Veggies keeps the same reliable matching card format but adds new tactile elements to make the matching more engaging. While the cards still connect with a joining side piece, they also feature detachable tactile images that increase the complexity and strategy when playing the game. The detachable pieces can be left in to be used in the same way as the other memory puzzle designs but allow for customization and varying difficulty for students who may want to remove them. Removing the pieces and having to reinsert the tactile image by outline alone can help users develop fine motor skills alongside the memory aspect of the game.  

Each card comes equipped with a bright, high contrast, colorful tactile image against a plain white background. Along the bottom of the card there are braille and print labels in black text. The colorful images alongside print text make this game enjoyable for users with any level of vision. Students can play seamlessly alongside sighted peers, or at home with parents or siblings. It is a game that is designed to bring students who are blind or low vision a fun learning opportunity that easily works as a multi-player game for any level of visual ability. The braille labels help students practice braille literacy from an early age, and, as they continue to use the cards, to become familiar with words used throughout everyday life.  

When developing the newest addition to Memory Puzzles, Project Manager Bobby Fulwiler wanted to expand into a space that was a part of users’ everyday lives and easy to access. “We had shapes and geometrical math, but we wanted to get into the real world in a way that was appropriate for all age groups,” said Fulwiler. “Not just something students encounter, but that’s tangible and easy to get ahold of. Tactile representation is never as good as the real thing-so we encourage parents, TVIs, anyone, to get to the store and pick up some of the real fruits and veggies to use alongside the game.”  

Made for Everyone 

Just as the Memory Puzzles: Fruits and Veggies cards were visually designed to include all learners, their use of common items makes them interesting for multiple age groups as well. Field testing showed that teachers and students loved the cards, and the card format also made it popular with adults and older users. For anyone experiencing vision loss later in life, starting with cards that focus on familiar objects in an easy-to-use form makes it engaging and a great braille learning tool. “It doesn’t matter how old you are, you can pick up a deck of cards. This product is for anyone and everyone,” said Fulwiler.  

The cards are made with durable, easy-to-clean material, and come inside of a durable pouch as well. Every part of Memory Puzzles: Fruits and Veggies has been created to stick with you and your students through each phase of learning, and to connect people along the way. Each set of Memory Puzzles is available for purchase now on the APH website!