What Does Working Memory Affect?

First, we need to understand what working memory is. Working memory is the ability to hold information while performing other tasks. Working memory begins to develop when a child is still an infant and continues to develop as their brains develop.

Next we need to understand why memory is important for learning. Working memory helps you hold onto information so that you can use. For example, children need working memory to comprehend a word problem. While they work out details comprehending the sentences, they must also hold operations in their head such as multiplication.  Working memory is also a critical skill with reading. The combination of the visual working memory helping children identifying what words look like and the auditory memory telling the child what sound the word makes is essential. When children have low working memory, they may need to sound out each word independently, which decreases their fluency and their comprehension (which we will get to in another post).

Did you know memory can also effect remembering directions and paying attention? Picture this, you tell a child to the child to write a paragraph about their favorite sport. While they are writing, you tell them to remember to put a detail in about who they play this sport with. Upon completion, you ask where that detail is. It is nowhere to be found. You ask them what you told them to put in their paragraph. The child has no idea. There are a few theories on why this may be. One theory is that the child plainly wasn’t listening. But, the more likely theory is that the child couldn’t process what you were saying to them while they were also focusing on each sound within words and each word within their paragraph. Writing takes a great deal of working memory.  Or have you ever told your child to pick up their backpack, put their lunch box in the sink and wash their hands before they grab their afternoon snack? Children with poor working memory may struggle with this task due to the multiple directions and steps.

Check back soon for our update on some suggestions on what you can do to help your child improve their working memory.