How To Improve Working Memory In Kids?

If you’ve noticed your kid have a difficult time remembering simple directions and being more forgetful than he normally is, chances are he might be suffering from working memory issues. Before you panic and reach out to your doctor, read our post to learn more about working memory, what it is, and what you can do to help your child.

What Is Working Memory?

Working memory is the ability to store and manipulate the information stored in short-term memory while processing it simultaneously. Simply put, working memory is a mental sticky note that keeps a track of information until we use it. There are two types of working memory-visual-spatial memory and auditory memory. Visual spatial memory captures what we see, and auditory memory records what we hear.

[ Read: Communication Games For Kids ]

Symptoms Of Low Working Memory In Kids:

Working memory is crucial for classroom learning, particularly in languages and arithmetic. It’s a cognitive ability, and even a slight problem in this area can impact your kid’s academic performance. Here, we list some common symptoms to determine whether your child is suffering from low working memory or not:

• Difficulty in remembering a game’s rules.

• Difficulty in remembering teacher’s instructions.

• Difficulty in following lengthy discussion.

• Inability to complete tasks that require recalling relevant information.

• Inability to recall numbers in a math riddle.

• Unable to pay attention.

• Gets distracted easily.

[ Read: How To Improve Child’s Memory ]

How To Improve Working Memory In Kids?

Fortunately, several exercises, games, and activities can help your kid leverage his working memory. And, we’ve listed a few of them below!

1. Repetition:

Repeating test questions, reciting timetables and reviewing vocabulary cards will ensure that your kid retains information in both long and short-term memories. A research conducted by the Kent State University concluded that working memory gets better with retrieval practice. For example- Repeat a number sequence like “1, 3, 5, 9, 7.” Then ask your kid what number comes after three. You can expand the number sequence as he advances. Repetition is one of the best ways to improve working memory in children.

2. Video Game:

This is one of the working memory activities for children that kids won’t mind doing for hours. Video games will allow your child to practice his memory skills while having a fun and immersive gaming experience. Most of the video games require players to learn and recall the information to advance to the higher levels.

3. Kim’s Game:

You can play Kim’s game with your kid across some subjects. Display a few selections of numbers, objects or words. Now cover the board and remove one of the items. Ask your kid what item has been removed and see what he answers. Continue the game with different combinations of objects, words and numbers. This is one of the best working memory games for kids that everyone should give a try.

[ Read: Sensory Activities For Kids ]

4. Playing Chess:

Playing chess will help your kid expand his memory, as the game will require him to view all the pieces of information and see the overall picture.

5. Teach Your Child Visualization Skills:

Teaching your kid visualization skills can also help improve working memory. Encourage your kid to visualize some that he has just heard or read. For example- If you have told him to set a table for four people, ask him to imagine what the picture should look like. Then let him draw the image. As your kid starts getting better at visualizing, he will begin describing the image to you instead of drawing it.

6. Tell Your Kid To Teach You:

Teaching other requires a being to think about what they have learned and memorize it in a different way. If your kid is learning a skill like how to serve a shuttlecock, then ask him to teach it to you after his physical education teacher explains it to him. You can even make the kids explain his lessons to you after learning them at school.

7. Play Cards With Him:

Card games like Go Fish, UNO, Crazy Eights and War can improve your kid’s working memory in two ways. These games will let your child remember not just the rules of the games, but what cards he has and which ones other players have played.

8. Give Directions In Multiple Formats:

Your kid can benefit greatly when given direction in both verbal and visual format. After calling out the directions, encourage him to repeat the given directions and explain the meaning of each.

9. Write Down Math Steps:

Kids who have a low working memory find hard to rely on mental computations while solving math problems. So writing down math steps can help him greatly. If he is performing long division problem, then tell him to write down every step, including the numbers carried forward.

10. Retrieval Practice:

You can enhance the working memory of your kid by engaging him in retrieval practice. When you are reviewing the information before exams and tests, ask him to make up questions for every subject. You can even encourage your child to make up his test paper and answer them. It will also help you know whether your child has covered the important parts and information or not.

11. Connecting Emotions To Information:

Processing information in more than one way can help your child remember it. So encourage your kid to connect feelings to what he is trying to remember. For instance, if your kid is learning about how the pyramids were built in ancient Egypt, ask him to think how it would have felt to climb to the top of the pyramids, pulling massive stones in the hot sun. Studies suggest that holding an opinion or connecting to something emotionally can help to improve working memory in children.

[ Read: Learning School Activities For Kids ]

12. Memory Game:

Here’s a fun memory game to play with your child. Make the kids sit in a circle and have the first player say the phrase, “I went to the Thailand last year and took with me a sun-catcher.” Now the second kid has to repeat the sentence, including the first player’s item and adding his own to the list. The third kid has to add both the objects and his item in their list. Any child who cannot recall the previous players’ phrases is out of the game.

Remember, as parents, you must not reprimand your child for something over which he or she has no control. You have to help them overcome it. Do you know of, or use, any activities, games or techniques that can help kids with low working memory? If yes, then please share them with us by commenting below.

Was this article helpful?

Community Experiences

Join the conversation and become a part of our vibrant community! Share your stories, experiences, and insights to connect with like-minded individuals.