Memorization is an important aspect of life no matter how much technology holds on to information for us. Working memory or short-term memory refers to how we hold on to information. Young children use working memory in order to learn and follow directions. School aged children use working memory to complete math problems in their head. Another reason working memory is important to school aged children is because it is a necessary component in learning to read. Working memory will help a child to remember the sounds that letters make in order to sound out the word. Next, a child must remember what the words look like in order to recognize the word in a sentence.
Many kids struggle with how to strengthen their working memory. There are ways that we can help our children to improve this Executive Functioning skill. One ways to build working memory is through various multisensory approach.
Visualization
Work with your child on imagining a situation before he or she completes a task. For example, if you ask your child to make their bed or clean their room, ask them to draw a picture of the area. Your child must first visualize the area and then draw the picture.
As your child gets better at visualization they will be able to describe to you what the area should look like.
For young children, start by giving them steps in a process. Start with just one step and then build upon that. First ask them to go upstairs. After they are able to master that, ask them to go upstairs and brush their teeth. The final goal is to have them go upstairs, brush their teeth and put on pajamas. Each step could take some time. Be patient.
Play Teacher
If your child is able to teach you how to perform a skill, they must first organize information in their brain in order to explain it to you. Make learning fun by playing teacher! With any task pretend you and your child are in a classroom! This can make working on memory skills a lot of fun!
Games
Another simple and fun way to help children with working memory is to go back to the basics of playing simple card games like Uno, Go Fish or Memory! By playing games such as these, children need to remember the rules of the game and plan ahead. While they are remembering rules and planning they must also attempt to remember what the other person has done in the game in order to try to win! Playing simple games with your kids gives them many opportunities to build their working memory and have a fun time while doing it.
Multisensory
Processing information in as many forms as possible can help children to develop their working memory. Have your child write down an answer to a question, then say or sing an answer out loud. You can also practice doing math facts in a tray of sugar or sand. Our brain is programmed to hold on to information that is unusual or different. This explains why incorporating strategies that involve the senses helps to build our short term memory. The senses help us to move information into the long-term memory in a meaningful and memorable way. To create a sustainable memory, we need to prevent incoming info from being released from our brain. We achieve this by associating it meaningfully with knowledge that already exists.
Working with your child on their short term or working memory can actually make them happier. Psychology Today notes that Dopamine release is promoted by performing working memory tasks, which suggests that working memory tasks are actually rewarding. If you feel your child could use help in his or her working memory skills, contact us today to set up a consultation appointment by clicking here.
