Having a child that find it difficult to store a bit of information
Some children can be found wanting when it comes to retaining information. Having a child that find it difficult to keep a bit of information in his/her mind while he is doing something else? Or struggling to store content like data in his brain to be use on demand; meaning he is forgetful!
From experience, many case where a child sent to pick a clothing material from the room forget same on is way to carry out same task and coming back to you empty handed. Other scenario seen is situation where he is on a task take for example arranging shoes but his attention was caught away by simply calling him/her to answer the door bell but thereafter forget to go back to the ongoing chores meaning he might have working memory issue or absent mindedness.
Working memory can simply mean the mode of manipulation of information that short-term memory stores. In synonymous short term memory implies working memory. And is a skill children use to learn, assimilate and store what is learnt. This is also required to follow on tasks done in multiple steps, directions or stages, example is solving arithmetic problem. Off hand this has to do with ability to make good use of the executive functions.
Children use working memory in the process of learning, assimilating and equally following directions can be help to improve their executive functions by assisting them to continually develop on working memories booster in their daily endeavors. Their Working memory refers to how they hold onto or capacity of retaining vital learned contents and work with information stored in short-term memory. This act of brain development in early child learning is required and can be achieved by the following rule of thumbs
Visualization skills set optimization
Teach the child on ability to see and visualize things. Enlighten him/her on how to create a picture of what is seen in his or her mind and map it to existence or reality. Same is done in cases of what he read or heard. For example a child is ask to purchase fruits from the store not far, a step further to help such child not to forget is to have him or her to visualize what a fruit is, to picture any kind of fruit he likes, you can assist him in drawing what the picture is like to enhance visualization and as time goes by he can describe the image in lieu of needing to draw it because solely it would help a long way to register it in his mind
Teach children to teach you what he learnt from you
To assist the child to learn and assimilate you must take time to explain a simple task on how to get something done easily. The explanation should be simplified to making real sense in use of the information required to achieve same. Practically carry out the steps required alongside and emphasis on key important things to note making sure their attention is gained in all steps involved and after the completion, ask him or her to teach same to you by mimicking steps you adopt . This will lets them start working with the information right away rather than waiting to be called on. And it will relay to you how far he has been able to assimilate and retain the information.
Involve them in Playing games that use visual memory
Many games out there can be used to structure their thinking to remember facts and figure. A fun time game at home go a long way, how? It can be asking them to describe a specific object you touched and simply tell you where it can be found elsewhere in the environment. Different Items can be grouped together and one after the other can be sort out assisting them along side discussion, laying emphasis on the characteristics of each items, where applicable and use-age. Thereafter sorting; take short time reminding him/her on what has been done as you complement their response in interactive gist. Interrogation exercise like tell me the first object and if he get it, you say something about the second object to give intro to next inline object discuss and ask of is favorite. Doing this, kids begin to have sense of belonging specific to assimilating facts in information.
Engage them in Playing cards
Playing simple card games will help them master shapes, number, turn, flow and orderliness. Other simple card games can improve working memory simply by keeping to the rules of the game in mind or moves involve in winning such game subjecting him to reason or think critically thereby exercising the brain. It as well enhance their memory on what cards he has and which ones other people have played and the card he may require to execute winning giving room to be curious respect to mastering the game and after the game section each can start counting scores flashing back on the winning point..
Interactive active reading
Active reading of a long passages where two or many readers are involve can assist a long way to memorize what was read as any of the passage taken by individual can be ask to be summarize by who takes the reading like acting play scene. Talking out loud in discussion and asking questions about the reading material can also help with assimilation and retaining information contents. Highlighting and sticky notes can equally be used to emphasis importance. Jotting down notes and underlining or highlighting text can help kids keep the information in mind long enough to answer questions about it when required.
Break contents in information into smaller bites
Breaking contents in information or data in fragment that can easily be understood is required as it will enhance grasping the scope easily. Children are sensitive in imitating or learning however retaining the content learnt require a step forward by understanding how individual respond to actions and reactions so keep in mind when you need to give your child a task that involve multi-step directions you are to first of all let him or her understand what you want to achieve and thereafter write each of the step required to achieve same down or itemize it, re-discus them step by step or give them one at a time in order to help fasten their understanding and with this it stick to their memory.
An example is phone numbers and social security numbers having hyphens in them, why? Because it’s easier to remember a few small groups of numbers than it is to remember one long string of numbers. A graphic organizer can also be use to help break writing assignments into smaller pieces.
Make it multi-sensory
The idea of processing information comes in many ways depending on who is involved, what kind of information is involved and time of occurrence is another factor. Using multi-sensory strategies can help a child to keep information in mind as long as when it is required to use. That is why task that involve long steps and stages can be writing down so your child can look at them while carrying out the order of implementation. Such after writing down can be saying them out loud so your child can hear them. A gift can be used to motivate the child in order to draw close is attention during this period, the idea is to assist him/her to assimilate and retain information.
Simplify tasks in steps and stages
A daily routine that is well spelt out in writing paste on the wall, through assisted timing of event a call to action alarming system can be triggered as reminder. The child involved with time will get accustomed to the routine and even when the alarm fails his working memory will not because he already master it. For example waking up to have a quite time in prayer daily and timely, laying of beds and simple sweeping of the room, brushing of teeth and bathing in preparation for daily endeavor and simple put a check in the routine to confirm it is daily done will be quickly inculcated and it will become an habit that cannot be easily forgotten.
Helping kids get into routines is essential for helping with working memory as routine can be goals. How does that translate to working memory of a child? As it become a regular exercise or an accustomed way of learning it can also assist in school academics; just by saying today date, ask question during classes, bring out suggestion in discussion, always be alert to instructions and commands, stay happy always, arrange books orderly after classes, do not beat drums with writing materials and lots more, learn to be attentive during listening all this seem like set of rules and not task but look inward it directly compliment activities where task of learning is carried out and this set of guide can often enhance the behavioral attitude of such child to get involve interactively; assimilate faster and enhance retaining content learned.
Maintain eye contacts in discussion
Maintaining a good eye contact will help in getting to know the child limit. After given your child what feels like a reasonable set of instructions, and not quite long from the point of contact he keeps getting off track, it’s a good sign that he’s reached the limits of his working memory.
By knowing the limit you can use that as a guide to address the issues, by tuning into when , how often, in what instance and many question can be raised to get clear view on how to assist such child.
Train them to write down information
Help your child get into the habit of writing down important information , homework/ assignments, a dates set ahead for field trips and visitation, his ideas on what is future ambition is. Though in some case kids think he can be able to remember stuffs like this but, be cleared not everything needs to be remembered.
There are many tool out their like diary that can be use to keep instant information, tools like to-do lists, organizers and reminders etc can make it easier for kids to remember important information. Keeping important information and task in documents assign for purpose like this will go long way to keep off pressure from working memory or anything they want to remember later on.
Enlighten them to ask question on what is not cleared
What is not cleared or understood when ask for clearer explanation may fasten assimilation and retentive memory. It show the kids is flowing with the conversation or teaching involved and want to know more. Such information if in later days or time queried back, such child can vividly remember that a related question once has been asked by him. It will be an eye opening time to fasten quick learning and build retentive memory actively.
Breast feeding at early birth stage And Consumption of food rich in vitamins
And to focus on creating and practicing healthy, effective coping strategies early child breast feeding will help your child develop bright retentive memory and nutrients from it he’ll be able to fall back on for the rest of his life when using the brain optimally. As eating good food that is rich in vitamins can enhance brain functionality too.
Medications that enhance attention can help with working memory though medications don’t treat working memory issues, but they do reduce distractibility and increase focus, which makes it easier for kids to access their working memory. Providing a clear direction and manageable instructions will go a long way
Associate memory with the environment
Illustrating lesson learn with environment for example, a joke is learned in the presence of a particular smell, that same aroma may cue the memory for that joke. More simply, when in an exam, I advise my students to visualize the place in which they were revising as a cue to memory.
Train them to summarize a story line
A good night-time story line is a good tool. Let it be short and enlightening and no suspense packed stuff. After the completion of same the child involve will be ask of the lesson learnt from the story. During this the story teller will take is time to illustrate each of the lesson learnt with brief instance in real life scenario. As this is a vital tool to enhance working memory, it also help to develop imaginative reasoning of such kids too.
Say it out loud
Saying out what you learn, teaching other can help a long way. The easiest of all methods for remembering everything you learn. Studies found saying what you want to remember out loud to yourself or even mouthing it will help with recall and retaining the contents in the memory. This will help kids with working memory issues just by resounding what has been learnt.
Help make connections and links to real time scenario
Assist children to form associations that connect the different details he’s trying to remember. Create an avenue to get the child interest with fun mnemonics like how things sound, look, behave etc Looking out ways to connect information helps with forming and retrieving long-term memory, it also helps with working memory, which is what we use to hold and compare new and old memories.
Memory-boosting strategic ways and games are just some of the ways to help your child with executive functioning issues if any. If your child continues to have significant difficulties with working memory, it might be a good idea to get an evaluation for possible attention issues. You may also want to explore tips from experts on topics like getting organized and managing attention, feel free to follow us for update.
Fact: The human brain begins to form very early in prenatal life research show just three weeks after conception. However in many ways, brain development is a lifelong project. That is because the same events that shape the brain during development are also responsible for storing information, developing new skills and memories throughout life.
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