Helping to improve memory in children is much easier than you think! Memory skills start in very young children and continue to develop in older children and throughout life.
I feel so lucky to be an occupational therapist. So much of what I do in my career helps kids on so many levels. The therapeutic activities that I use and recommend are not rocket science. They’re simple activities, but are strongly based on neuroscience!
Many of the tips that I share with parents and educators have not changed that much over the past couple of decades. Why? Because development has not changed.
But our world has changed and continues to change.
These changes negatively impact children. Their bodies and brains are drastically becoming very different that they are supposed to be.
We need to re-set and refocus to make some simple adjustments to help get our children back on track.
This article will focus on memory skills and shares important information to help improve learning in kids. This important information and these activities are actually quite simple, but based on science that will boost brain power in children!
What Memory Skills Do Children Need?
Memory skills in younger children and adults can be a very broad topic. Memory can generally be thought of as how our brain takes in, holds and stores information, and then later retrieves it or automatically uses it.
There are several categories and parts to memory. For simplicity, we will talk about three general areas.
Our brains use sensory memory, short-term memory, and long-term memory.
- Sensory memory: information collected from the senses, stored for a few seconds
- Short-term memory: temporarily storing, retaining, and recalling small amounts of new information for a short time (up to 30 seconds)
- Long-term memory: storing and recalling information almost permanently (for years or a lifetime)
Sensory memory happens with or without our brain realizing what we feel and experience, but it has a strong influence on memory and learning. It’s a type of short-term memory. I added it to the list separately because 1) I’m an OT who strongly focuses on sensory experiences and learning! and 2) stimulating the senses during learning significantly helps with memory.
Short-term memory is remembering something that you just experienced (colors, names, phone numbers, part of a sentence.) These new things can be transferred into long-term memories if the neural pathways are strong and meaningful.
Working memory has been used interchangeably with short-term memory. Working memory is an executive function skill. The brain remembers new information and uses it while completing problem solving tasks, learning tasks, reasoning, and following directions.
Children use working memory when they need to follow multiple step directions, remember parts of a story, or solve a math problem using mental math. Adults use it when remembering parts of a recipe while gathering ingredients, remembering a sequence of numbers for a code, or sharing a phone number.
Memory Development in Children
Memory development starts in young children as they play, explore, and interact with the world around them.
It’s important for adults to not help younger children too much.
Cognitive abilities increase when kids are encouraged and allowed to try to do things on their own.
Independence during daily tasks and play activities helps with problem-solving skills, executive function, and confidence.
If kids are secure and have a well developed sense of self, they can process information better for learning.
16 Ways to Improve Memory in Children to Boost Brain Power for Learning
There are many specific activities and games that can improve memory in younger and older children. The first few on this list are basic concepts but play an important role in learning and improving memory.
Use these tips and activities as a guide to learning centers, indoor recess, or homework assignments!
1) Proper Nutrition and Hydration
Proper nutrition and hydration are important for brain function. Children need to make sure they have a good balance of nutrients to offer a rich source of vitamins for their brains.
Green leafy vegetables, beans, berries, whole grains, eggs, oily fish, nuts, olive oil, seeds, etc are great brain boosting foods. These are ich in omega-3 fatty acids, antioxidants, and vitamins.
Water is also crucial for brain function. Proper hydration improves cognitive development as well as a children’s memory.
2) Have Fun!
Having fun during learning and play is a powerful way to boost learning and memory.
The part of the brain that processes emotions and memories is the limbic system. It’s a complex system in the brain that helps with motivation and making new neural connections. These are very important components of becoming life-long learners!
Parents and educators can influence making new connections in the brain to improve memory and increase focus.
Simply by making learning and life fun!
3) Interact with Nature
As human beings, we are meant to be connected to the natural world.
We process information from nature which has a great impact on our emotional well-being. When a child’s body feels grounded and secure, it can learn and feel less stressed.
Nature interactions are a great way to improve overall brain function.
4) Multisensory Approach
Use as many of the senses as possible during learning to help with memory. This includes the foundational sensory systems: touch, movement, and using the body. The more kids can move and physically interact with their world, the better.
Adding visual input with bright or contrasting colors helps with memory, as well as sound effects, noises, chants, mantras, or mnemonic devices.
You can pair different types of sensory input together during learning. For example, a smell with a hands on learning activity, rhythm and music with a poem, clapping or stomping while spelling.
5) Memory Games
Classic memory games are an easy way to work on memory! Play memory match with pictures, symbols, words, or numbers.
You can also make your own memory games during daily routines. Show three items or share three words of the day, and have children recall them later.
6) Card Games
Card games help kids learn and follow the rules of the game.
Children need to pay attention to the cards and remember what other players have played. There are so many card games that improve memory capacity.
7) Board Games
Board games are great for helping kids remember rules and sequences, and they help with problem-solving skills.
Games additionally help with patience, taking turns, and social skills (skills needed for everyday life!)
Examples are Scrabble, Boggle, I Never Forget a Face. (More are listed on the Educational Games and Toys post.)
8) Puzzles
Visual memory skills as well as problem solving, concentration, and patience are needed for puzzles.
Younger children can match picture or color puzzles and then work on shapes.
Older children can focus on interlocking jig-saw puzzles of different sizes.
9) Pattern Games
Games and activities that use patterns are great for memory skills.
Examples are crossword puzzles, sudoku, tangrams. (Visual Skills Activities shares more examples of puzzles and pattern games.)
10) Music
Playing music, listening to music, and singing are great ways to enhance memory.
Music is very powerful for the brain!
11) Rhymes
Adding a rhyme or rhythm helps with sequencing and auditory memory.
Auditory skills are important for listening, following directions, and learning. (Simple Auditory Activities shares fun games and activities for kids.)
12) Read
Reading is a great way to work on memory.
Kids can participate in active reading, listen to someone else, or listen to an audio book. Have conversations regarding what is read and make relatable connections.
Younger children can answer questions about it and older children can take notes or highlight important information.
13) Use Visualization
During daily routines, conversations, and learning, teaching kids to create a visual image is a great way to boost memory.
They can think of the image, draw it, or write about it.
14) Let Kids Teach Others
Children enhance memory and learning when they have to show and explain something to someone else.
Pair children to practice teaching new concepts to one another. Or have them teach an adult for homework assignments.
15) Make Connections
Connecting bits of information to real life experiences helps with long-term memory.
Tell stories and share examples that children can relate to. Ask children about how learning information connects to their life.
16) Wait Time
Make sure you give children time to process and recall information.
Adults often give the answer just before a child is able to recall and share it! Kids need more time to process, recall, and answer.
Have Fun While Improving Memory in Children
Your biggest take-away from this article should be to simply make learning fun for kids.
Think of your best teachers from when you were a child. The ones that come to my mind definitely made my learning process more enjoyable!
My favorite teachers played games and shared real life stories. They told jokes and made us laugh.
One teacher in particular ALWAYS incorporated movement breaks into our day (way before we started calling them “Brain Breaks“!)
Having fun seems like such a simple concept, and it is. But with added stressors in life, it’s really easy to drift away from this.
As a school-based occupational therapist, I’ve seen the added stressors on administrators, educators, and teachers. And parents have their share of stress at home.
When we’re stressed, the enjoyment is easily stripped out of many parts of life. We become drained and it’s easy to robotically go through the motions of each day.
However, we can’t let this happen! If you find yourself in a rut as a professional or parent (or both!) step back for a minute. Figure out what you need to do to get back on track.
Support others and carry the joy of life and learning through our work with children!
You CAN create new connections in the brains of many, many students!
Play games, share a joke, play music. Take body brain breaks. Mix it up every day! Make it motivating. Tell real-world stories, show your emotions.
Have FUN out there!
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Note: This post has been updated from the original publish date.
In the original post, I shared a story about my 3lb 3oz daughter. I reflected on her life as I attended a Neuroplasticity conference. The instructor explained the importance of the limbic system, and the importance of making new brain connections if there are missing parts of the brain.
My daughter is living proof of the power of creating and strengthening connections in the brain. The structure that connects the two sides of her brain was missing en utero and was very small at birth. Throughout her infancy and childhood, I used all of the strategies and tips listed in this post.
My tiny little preemie was a happy child, a gymnast and rugby player in high school, graduated high school with 28 college credits, has traveled the world, and is now confidently “adulting” on her own as a nurse! 😉❤️
Changing pathways in the brain is possible. I know this as a professional, and I’ve also witnessed it as a mother.
