As the new school year begins, parents and teachers are once again faced with the familiar phrases, “I can’t find my school jumper!” or “I left my hat at home!” For parents of older kids, the stakes may be even higher with concerns over lost mobile phones or laptops left behind on the bus. The return to school often brings additional stressors that can be alleviated with a better understanding of child development.
It’s easy for parents to want to take control, perhaps by packing their children’s bags themselves or texting them reminders at the end of the day. However, it’s crucial to recognize that this approach can hinder their children’s learning opportunities. By managing everything for them, parents may be unintentionally stifling the development of essential life skills.
Understanding Child Memory Development
Children are constantly honing their memory skills amid their busy daily lives. They have to remember where they’ve placed items, absorb new information, and navigate routines. One key aspect, known as prospective memory, involves the ability to remember future tasks—like picking up a drink bottle during playtime or showing a note from their teacher to a parent later.
Success in managing prospective memory requires multiple cognitive processes to align. Children must be aware of what’s needed in the moment, create and remember their intention to act later, and then recall that intention when it counts. This “remembering to remember” doesn’t always happen easily—it requires a higher-order cognitive skill known as executive function.
The Role of Executive Function
Executive function is vital for controlling attention and memory while engaging in complex thinking tasks. It’s a challenging process, making it common for kids to lose items and forget tasks. Forgetfulness during childhood is typical and often normalizes as they grow.
Children develop executive function skills at different rates, which means some might forget more often than their peers. One specific condition related to this kind of forgetfulness is Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). Children diagnosed with ADHD may experience higher levels of forgetfulness, especially in everyday activities.
Practical Tips for Parents
To support their children, parents can:
– Build consistent routines. Research shows that repeated practices help children develop cognitive skills, making it easier for them to remember tasks without thinking.
– Promote metacognition by encouraging awareness of their cognitive processes. Sometimes, children are overly optimistic about their ability to remember, and parents can provide helpful strategies.
– Model the desired behavior by creating lists and being organized. Engaging in memory strategies together, like ensuring bags are ready the night before, fosters a sense of responsibility in children.
– Seek professional guidance if concerns arise. While forgetfulness is typically part of growing up, understanding when it might be indicative of a larger issue is key. Consulting a GP or school psychologist can offer valuable insights.
Know What to Avoid
It’s essential to avoid relying on your child to self-initiate memory tasks spontaneously. Instead, implement checklists or memory prompts. Forgetting is a regular aspect of development, so it’s crucial not to stress about slip-ups. Instead, view them as teachable moments for future adjustments.
Lastly, be sure not to judge. Recognizing that memory lapses are common can help mitigate the feeling of failure that children might experience when they forget.
The transition back to school can be smoother if both parents and children understand the natural processes behind memory and forgetfulness, fostering an environment of growth and learning.
#Education #ParentingAdvice
