Working Memory

It is an essential skill a child needs in order to hold on to information to work with it mentally. It is needed for a wide variety of skills, such as writing and speaking, doing mental math, translating instructions into actions, and reasoning. Young children are able to hold one or two things in their mind, but holding on to many things and working with them mentally takes much longer to develop. If older children have a poorly developed working memory, they may stumble when carrying out regular tasks and have difficulty performing well at school. Parents can help develop working memory in young children through the following fun, yet effective, ways:

Toddlers

• Play simple imitation games with their child like “Follow the Leader” or “Punchinella,” where the child needs to use their working memory to remember certain actions or instructions in order to play the game properly.
• Sing songs with their child that involve multiple movements, such as “The Hokey Pokey,” “I’m a Little Teapot,” and “Head, Shoulders, Knees, and Toes.” These songs require their child to listen to the words, store the instructions in their working memory, and then use this information to guide their movements.
• Set simple two-step rules to remember for familiar games. For example, in a basic “running race” challenge, parents may tell their toddler that they need to 1) Listen for “Go!” and 2) Touch the “finish line.”

Preschoolers

• Stagger instructions or break them down. For example, parents can use language such as “Please put your toys and books away first, and then I’ll tell you what to do next.” Giving too many instructions at once often results in the child forgetting most of them as they are still in the process of developing the skills and brain connections needed to remember them.
• Tell stories with their child about shared events. To do this, the child is required to reflect on the experience stored in their working memory. They must then think about the order of these events before describing them.
• Repeat favorite puzzles with their child. This is a good way for a preschooler to hone working memory, because they have already completed the puzzle before. In order to complete it again, the preschooler needs to reflect on how they did it the first time, which then triggers recollection of information stored in their brain.
• Let their child help with simple chores. Not only will it help them learn how to follow instructions, but it will also boost their confidence.

Primary Schoolers

• Teach their child to start writing instructions and other important matters down. This will improve their memory.
• Encourage their primary schooler to keep a diary. This is a healthy way to express personal emotions, while strengthening writing skills and sharpening working memory.

Sing in rounds with their child, which compels them to use their working memory. This can be a fun family-bonding activity when done together. A great song to start with is, “Row, Row, Row Your Boat.”