5 ways to help your forgetful child remember better

Memory is an important part of building a solid foundation for learning, not just in the classroom but beyond that as well.

Having a great memory can help your child do better in school, achieve better grades and be sharper and more attentive to things.

But the children of this generation seem to be having a hard time focusing on one thing and are often easily distracted. The easy access to on demand television, the internet, gadgets and their endless toys, can sometimes make it impossible for them to focus on one thing at a time.

Your kid’s mind may not be fully developed as of now, and he might be still figuring out how to remember things. This is why this is the best time to help your child and strengthen his memory. Here are 5 ways on how you can help your forgetful child remember better.

1 Employ Visualization

Tell your child to imagine in his or her mind about what they have just read or heard. For example, after reading about historical events, encourage your child to make a movie in their mind. Fun games that mix and match items can also improve visual memory. Flashcards with words or images are also a great way to practice word meanings.

2 Encourage Questions

Understanding a subject is the first step to being able to remember the material. Encouraging your child to ask questions helps ensure he or she is developing a deeper comprehension of the topic. This also helps children develop critical thinking and problem-solving skills.

3 Use A Multisensory Approach

Try to utilize all the senses when learning something. For instance, when you want to teach your child about apples, try not to stick to just reading about apples. Get your child to touch, smell, taste and even count the number seeds inside. By giving your child a chance to process information through sight, sound, touch, and movement, they can achieve better memory retention.

4 Food For The Brain

Include brain-building nutrients such as Omega-3 DHA into your child’s diet. DHA is vital for a child’s developing brain to support memory, learning, and concentration and behavior.

5 Ask Your Child To Teach You

Ever heard the saying that in order to remember a subject better, you should teach it to someone else? Have your child role play as a teacher and have you (or siblings) as their students. Encourage your child to explain the information he or she is learning to you. Then go back and review any of the material your child was unsure about.

Featured in Parenthood Magazine April Issue 2023