If your child is a visual learner, placing the names of the states and capitals on an empty map can help prepare your child for an exam. If you don't have a blank map of the United States, you can make one with poster board and a marker. Shade each state a different color to increase the visual recall as your child studies.
Write the name of each state and capital on separate index cards. First have your child place each state name on the correct state, then move on to capitals. When your child becomes proficient at this exercise, shuffle the state and capital names together or put a time limit on completing the exercise to make it challenging.
Feeling, touching and moving appeal to tactile learners. If your child falls in this category, a puzzle of the United States can be a beneficial learning aid. The child is able to physically hold the state and become familiar with its shape and placement on the map. Use pieces that have both the state and capital name printed on it.
Using flashcards is another way to help your tactile learner. With the name of the state printed on one side and the capital on the other, travel from room to room in your house learning different regions of the country. For example, go through the New England states in the living room and the Midwest states in the kitchen.
Auditory learners remember best through discussions and listening. Flashcards are a beneficial tool for this learner as well; however, how the flashcards are used differs from the tactile learner. Instead of focusing on the location where learning takes place, emphasize audible techniques. Randomly select a flashcard, call out the state and have your child respond with the name of the capital. When your child is proficient at this game, reverse the order and have your child name the state for each capital.
When you don't have time to spend sitting and studying states and capitals with your child, reviewing material on the go is a good alternative. Look for out-of-state license plates when you are driving together. When you find one, the first person to correctly name the capital gets a point. The person with the most points at the end of the trip wins the game. Repetition is a key strategy for memorization, so the more you practice together, the more your child retains the information.