Getting results like those in our studies requires regular use of BrainWare Safari over a period of weeks. In general, we recommend that you use the program:
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3 to 5 times per week
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30-60 minutes
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For approximately 12 weeks
Most users will not complete all 168 levels in that amount of time. However, it is the frequency and intensity of use that strengthens our mental processes. Some users may want to take a break after 10-12 weeks of intense use. Many may want to continue (“I want to beat this game!”) but at a less intense pace.
Some tips for optimizing your/ your child’s experience with BrainWare SAFARI:
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Don’t spend more than 1 hour per day using the program. At first, you may not want to stop at an hour, but it will become challenging and you won’t get the most out of the program if you work longer than that. After an hour, your brain deserves a rest!
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Don’t spend more than about 10 minutes in any exercise. Make sure to move around (Parents, encourage your child to move around) within the program and work on multiple exercises, rather than sticking with the same one until it’s done. Some people find that setting a timer is helpful. This cross-training approach will build your skills faster and will make your journey all the more enjoyable.
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Some exercises will be easier than others, but all of them will help you develop those crucial cognitive skills. Don't give up if you don't pass a level right away. BrainWare SAFARI is teaching your brain something new even if you have to try an exercise many, many times to pass to the next level.
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Focus on the time spent and successes, rather than levels completed. It’s the time spent working in the program that has the value.
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When the program gets hard for you / your child, that’s when it’s really helping to develop skills. Be encouraging and supportive. If they are discouraged or frustrated, remind them they only need to work on that exercise for 10 minutes, then they can move to another one. (The program develops skills in multiple ways in different exercises, so moving around can help develop the areas that are hard so when you come back it will probably seem easier.)
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If your child is having difficulty understanding how an exercise (game) works, you can switch to practice mode and show them how it works.
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Don’t write things down. It may be tempting to write numbers and letters down when an exercise is pushing the limits of your memory skills. But writing them down defeats the purpose of the exercise, which is to build those skills!
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Do repeat things out loud. Oral rehearsal is a good way to exercise your memory and keep them in mind while you're working the exercise. You will probably find that you need to do this less and less as you progress through BrainWare SAFARI.
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There are only two ways to cheat in BrainWare SAFARI. One is to write things down. The other is to have someone else do it for you. There’s no value to passing levels if you’ve cheated your brain out of the value of the exercise.
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If you / your child has difficulty with “right” and “left”, have him/her work in Iguana Lookout before trying Arrow Point Bridge. He or she can even use the Practice Mode in Iguana Lookout until comfortable with left and right arrows.
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Rhythm Ribbet is a good exercise to work on early on because it helps develop rhythm and timing skills that will be called on in a number of other exercises.
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We suggest you save Ancient Logic and Reasoning and Llama Logic for the days when you're not having as much success or at the end of a challenging session. If you do only two or three puzzles a day, you'll have plenty of fun challenges to spread throughout your journey.
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Celebrate your / your child’s achievements in the program—it’s exciting to pass a hard level!
Make sure to log out at the end of a session by clicking on the "EXIT" button and answering the questions. If you try to log in the next time when you’re still logged in, you will be locked out of your account. (If that happens, give us a call and we'll reset your account for you.)
