As parents, you always find ways to best support your child’s growth and development. One way to do that is to help them develop their ability to recall information. A good memory, after all, doesn’t just allow children to remember precious moments. It’s also involved in various aspects of learning and skill development, such as problem-solving, language acquisition, following directions, and imaginative thinking.
Here are the types of memory and their role in child development.
Sensory Memory
Children acquire sensory memory through their senses, but it lasts for a very short time—usually less than a second.
Despite its fleeting nature, this type of memory is crucial in child development because it helps children make sense of the world around them. Depending on the significance of the sensory input and the child’s level of attention, this information may be transferred to short-term or long-term memory. For example, children might not remember sounds they heard just half a minute ago unless they paid enough attention to store the information for later use.
Short-Term Memory
Another type of memory is short-term memory. While it is not as fleeting as sensory memory, it still disappears relatively quickly—typically after about 30 seconds.
Children use short-term memory to remember a string of words until they can repeat them or a series of numbers until they can dial or jot them down. They can retain short-term memory through practice, often repeating the information until it is no longer needed. According to reports, short-term memory, along with working memory, impacts language comprehension, learning, planning, reasoning, and general fluid intelligence.
Working Memory
Working memory resembles short-term memory, but instead of solely recalling information, children utilise it to complete tasks. For instance, when you instruct your child to pack their belongings, they rely on working memory to remember the items already placed in the bag, allowing them to proceed to the next item until the task is completed.
Among the different types of memory, experts say that working memory plays a pivotal role in a child’s ability to follow directions. If a child is unable to retain the information in their working memory, they may struggle to carry out the task effectively.
Long-Term Memory
The last category of memory on our list is long-term memory, a remarkable storage system that retains information for extended periods. Unlike short-term memory, long-term memory has virtually no limit to its capacity. This means that it can store vast amounts of information accumulated over a lifetime.
Long-term memory is crucial for preserving our experiences, knowledge, and skills over time. It allows us to recall events from our childhood, remember important facts and concepts, and retain learned skills such as riding a bike or playing a musical instrument.
It is further subdivided into explicit and implicit memory.
Explicit
Explicit memory encompasses information that requires conscious effort to store. It can manifest in two main forms: episodic and semantic memory. Episodic memory involves recollections of specific events or milestones in a child’s life, such as their first solo walk to school or receiving a particular award. Conversely, semantic memory involves knowledge acquired through learning rather than personal experience. This includes information obtained through reading, instruction, or other means, such as facts, concepts, and general knowledge.
Implicit
Implicit memory refers to the retention of information in children that wasn’t consciously encoded but still manages to become ingrained in their memory bank, often influencing their actions. For instance, effortlessly resuming biking or swimming even after extended periods of not engaging in these activities showcases the power of implicit memory.
There are Ways to Boost Memory
Recognising the crucial role memory plays in learning and task execution, it’s beneficial to foster its development in children through diverse activities acting as their “training regimen.” Engaging in active reading, participating in games that stimulate visual memory, and encouraging your child to teach you something are effective methods to enhance their memory skills.
Additionally, enrolling your child in a cognitive skills development programme can further bolster their cognitive abilities. BrainFit offers classes tailored to enhancing children’s learning capacity, shaping their behaviour and boosting their intelligence
Learn more about how BrainFit can help your child and check out our programmes here.
References
- Developing memory, https://extension.psu.edu/programs/betterkidcare/early-care/tip-pages/all/developing-memory#:~:text=Memory%20development%20not%20only%20takes,ability%20to%20form%20a%20positive, Accessed December 2, 2023
- sensory memory,https://dictionary.apa.org/sensory-memory, Accessed December 2, 2023
- Short-Term Memory, https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/psychology/short-term-memory, Accessed December 2, 2023
- The Psychology of Following Instructions and Its Implications, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7473227/#:~:text=To%20summarize%2C%20the%20ability%20to,student%27s%20ability%20to%20follow%20instructions. , Accessed December 2, 2023
- 8 working memory boosters, https://www.understood.org/en/articles/8-working-memory-boosters, Accessed December 2, 2023