Working Memory

What exactly is it? 

Our working memory is the Post-it notes of our brain. It’s temporary information that we hold on to before connecting that information to other things. Remember the Dewey Decimal System? Working memory is just like that! It tells our memory what information is connected to, where to put it, and where to find it later. 

Do you feel like YOU are your child’s Dewey Decimal System?

It’s not the least stressful part of your life, is it? 

It’s not your child’s either. 

Everyone benefits from a strong working memory. It impacts the ability to retain information, in every context.

At School

In school, working memory helps students link what they’re learning to what they already know. It ensures homework gets turned in on time and doesn’t end up crushed in the bottom of your child’s backpack while they insist they handed it in. Working memory is how students pay attention to assignment instructions, so they know exactly what to do later…or don’t. It’s how your kids remember long-term projects and tests and avoid drawing you into a last-minute scramble for poster board and source material. (How else did you want to spend your evening! Right?🥴) A strong working memory looks like having your assignments and test dates in one planner, knowing where your materials are, and remembering what’s coming up. 

At Home 

In our homes, working memory helps kids connect what they’re doing to what they need to be doing. It’s how they know where their sports gear and coat are. Working memory ensures their bed gets made without reminders. It is how your child remembers they have to do their homework right after school because they’re going to a friend’s later. A robust working memory means rarely telling you, “I’ll do it later,” followed by forgetting entirely until the next time you bring it up. It’s breezing through sequential instructions, “Put your shoes away, go do your homework, then set the table for dinner,” versus best two out three. Your child’s strong working memory means you do less reminding and more enjoying. 

With a strong working memory, your children are capable of greater independence, greater success, and greater confidence. 

So how the heck do you strengthen your kid’s working memory?

Here are 3 simple tools from HiveWheel’s giant collection: 

1. Have your child teach you! 

One fantastic way to engage working memory is to have your child explain what they’re learning to you. Teaching gets active memory firing on all cylinders. If they say they can’t because they don’t understand it. Pinpoint a specific piece they’ve already learned and have them tell you about that. Ask what it reminds them of. This simple step helps the brain begin connecting new information to old, just like the Dewey Decimal System of yore and hashtags of today! 

2. Play cards 

UNO, Monopoly Go, Exploding Kittens, and so many more! Working memory gets firing on all cylinders during card games. Players have to remember the rules, what cards have already played, and their strategy to win. This multi-prong engagement of one’s mind is like a workout for working memory. Put card games into the mix in your house to capture the benefits. 

3. Encourage active reading 

There’s a reason nearly every college student highlights, underlines, creates tabs, or annotates while reading. It works! Active reading engages memory, actively! But your kids don’t have to wait until college to capture this win. Encourage them to engage their working memory by marking what’s important in what they’re reading. Are their books electronic? Jot key information on a piece of paper and add electronic notes and highlights. Library books? Post-its to the rescue! Own that material? Mark it up, baby! Doing, while reading, engages working memory and helps your kids retain what they’re reading. After all, before information can get into our long-term memory, it must start in our working memory. 

Curious what our other tips are? 

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