Understanding Working Memory: A Guide for Parents

Working memory is a critical cognitive skill that plays a key role in your child’s learning and daily life. Often described as a “mental workspace,” it allows us to temporarily hold and manipulate information in our minds. For children, working memory is essential for tasks like following instructions, solving problems, and reading comprehension. In this post, we’ll explore what working memory is, why it matters, and how you can support your child if they struggle in this area.

What is Working Memory?

Working memory is part of our brain’s executive function system. It helps us retain and use information in real time. For example, when your child hears a maths problem, such as “12 + 8,” their working memory helps them hold the numbers in their mind while figuring out the answer. Similarly, when they follow a set of instructions—like “Get your coat, put on your shoes, and grab your lunchbox”—their working memory is working to keep track of all the steps.

Unlike long-term memory, which stores information for later use, working memory is temporary. Think of it as a mental sticky note that holds information briefly while it’s being processed.

Why is Working Memory Important?

Working memory is vital for many everyday tasks and academic activities, including:

• Following Multi-Step Instructions: Remembering what to do and in what order.

• Reading Comprehension: Holding information from the beginning of a sentence or paragraph while processing the rest.

• Maths Problem-Solving: Keeping numbers and operations in mind while calculating.

• Organisation: Planning tasks and remembering what needs to be done.

• Social Interactions: Keeping track of conversations and responding appropriately.

Children with a strong working memory can typically juggle these tasks with ease. However, for those with weak working memory, these activities can feel overwhelming and lead to frustration.

Signs of Working Memory Challenges

If your child struggles with working memory, you might notice some of these behaviours:

• Frequently forgetting instructions or needing them repeated.

• Losing track of what they were doing in the middle of a task.

• Struggling to keep up with multi-step problems in maths.

• Difficulty staying focused during reading or writing tasks.

• Often leaving tasks incomplete or jumping from one activity to another.

It’s important to note that working memory challenges are common in children with learning difficulties, such as dyslexia or ADHD, but they can also occur on their own.

How to Support Your Child’s Working Memory

There are several strategies you can use to help your child develop and manage their working memory:

1. Break Tasks into Smaller Steps

Provide instructions one or two steps at a time rather than all at once. For example, instead of saying, “Clean your room, make your bed, and put away your toys,” start with, “Clean your room.” Once that’s done, move to the next step.

2. Use Visual Supports

Visual aids, such as charts, checklists, or diagrams, can help your child keep track of tasks. For example, a morning routine checklist might include steps like “Brush teeth,” “Pack lunch,” and “Put on shoes.”

3. Encourage Repetition

Encourage your child to repeat instructions back to you. This helps reinforce the information in their mind and ensures they’ve understood what’s expected.

4. Teach Chunking

Help your child group information into smaller, more manageable chunks. For instance, when learning a phone number, it’s easier to remember “012-345-6789” than 10 individual digits.

5. Build Memory Games into Daily Life

Games like “Simon Says,” memory card games, or recalling items from a shopping list can help strengthen working memory in a fun and engaging way.

6. Be Patient and Give Extra Time

Children with working memory challenges may need more time to process information. Be patient and avoid rushing them, as this can increase stress and make it harder for them to focus.

7. Encourage Regular Breaks

Mental fatigue can worsen working memory struggles. Encourage short breaks between tasks to help your child recharge and refocus.

When to Seek Professional Help

If your child’s working memory difficulties significantly impact their learning or daily life, it may be worth consulting an educational psychologist or specialist teacher. They can assess your child’s working memory and recommend targeted strategies or interventions to support their development.

Working memory is a crucial skill that underpins much of your child’s learning and daily functioning. While challenges in this area can feel frustrating for both children and parents, there are many practical ways to provide support. By using strategies like breaking tasks into steps, incorporating visual aids, and encouraging memory games, you can help your child strengthen their working memory and build their confidence. With time, patience, and the right tools, children can learn to manage their working memory challenges and thrive in school and beyond.