How to improve your child’s memory

Many studies have shown that our memory begins developing when we’re still in our mother’s womb. Our ability to process and store information improves until we reach adulthood, and then declines as we age.

To understand how memory processes work, we can look at the modal model of memory:

• Sensory memory stores information like images, sounds, and colours for very short periods of time.
• Short-term or working memory allows us to quickly analyze small bursts of information before they’re stored permanently in our long-term memory.
• Long-term memory comes into play when we learn how to read, do mental math, understand long sentences, etc.

Memorizing new information occurs in three stages.

1. First, our senses absorb and process the information. This is the encoding stage.
2. Once the information reaches our memory, our brain unconsciously repeats it to create a permanent record. This is the storage stage.
3. Finally, when we use strategies to help us remember what we’ve learned, we’ve reached the retrieval stage.

Three factors influence learning in young children:

• Repetition
• Interest
• Motivation

Kids under seven can easily learn dozens of new words per day. The following activities can help them develop their memory skills:

• Storytelling
• Rhyming games
• Nursery rhymes
• Sensory play
• Etc.

Between the ages of 7 and 12, children learn that they have control over their memory. They’re finally able to use different memorization techniques. To help them figure out which ones work best for them, you can suggest the following:

• Read aloud whenever possible
• Practise rehearsal (mentally repeating information)
• Organize information by category
• Associate images with numbers
• Make connections between objects
• Make up songs
• Etc.

Here are some ways your child can help their brain make long-term memories:

• Start studying well in advance
• Learn small amounts of information at a time
• Get enough sleep
• Practise staying focused
• Etc.

When it comes to memorizing a text or preparing an oral presentation, you can encourage your child to associate each paragraph with a place. Ask them to do the following exercise:

• Think about a familiar place (e.g., home, school)
• Imagine a path guiding you from room A to room B
• Associate each room with a paragraph from the text
• Use this mental map to avoid losing the thread of the story

Studies have shown that a healthy diet is good for the brain and improves concentration. As shorter attention spans hinder memorization, it’s important to pay special attention to what your child eats.  The best brain foods have the following qualities:

• Low in fat
• Free of low-quality sugar (i.e., avoid desserts like chocolate and cookies)
• High in protein (e.g., nuts, eggs, cheese, yogurt, legumes)
• Rich in omega-3 (e.g., tree nuts, flax seeds, salmon)
• High in vitamins (e.g., fruits, vegetables)