As children grow older, memory and focus become extremely important, as their entire future and profession are dependent on these skills.
Scientists are continuously looking for ways to increase children’s memory and concentration, and have compiled a number of techniques for doing so.
If you’re a parent who’s puzzled about how to improve your child’s memory and concentration, here are a few tips to get you started.
- Infant memory improves gradually as they grow older
- Maturing of memory is a progressive process and varies for each child
- Babies’ memories can begin before they are born
- Within the first few weeks, babies recognize their parents by their face, voice, and smell
- Newborns can recognize their mother’s voice, and breastfed babies can recognize their mother’s smell within one week
- At 3 months, babies can remember new toys or photos shown to them 1-6 days prior
- By 9 months, infants remember more particular things and can copy acts witnessed for up to a week
Is There Any Link Between Memory and Concentration?
Yes, memory and concentration do have a close relationship. It’s impossible to remember things correctly later if you can’t concentrate long enough to focus on the specifics.
The ability to maintain one’s attention and focus on an event or task at will is referred to as concentration.
Memory, on the other hand, is the ability to recall, store, and recall knowledge from the past.
Memory and Concentration abilities are essential for the infant’s growth in terms of concentrating and memorizing information.
How to Improve Your Baby’s Memory
Here are some ways you can improve your baby’s memory during their first year of life:
- Establish consistent routines
Creating consistent routines and a steady environment can help your baby’s short-term memory develop. Make playtime routines for your baby, with the same toys and in the same room every day.
- Teach new skills
Introduce new skills to your baby in short playtime intervals. For example, play with a new toy that requires a new skill for a few minutes each day over a week to help your baby remember the skill.
- Talk to your baby
Speaking to your baby about what you’re doing can help them remember cause and effect. For example, when turning a light switch, say “Light off” and “Light on” simultaneously.
- Provide rest
A well-rested baby can retain more information, so allow your baby to explore and take breaks during playtime. This will help memories develop and be retained for longer periods of time.
Ways to Help Your Child Concentrate
You can use these helpful strategies to help him increase his concentration:
• Concentrate on foods for optimal brain development
A healthy diet combined with proper exercise can help your child’s mental growth during the first three years of his childhood.
• Have fun with him by playing games
Games that challenge your baby to concentrate like jigsaw puzzles, peg puzzles, and colored blocks will help your child to focus while playing.
• Disable any needless distractions
Avoiding distractions is the most important aspect of concentration. Turn off the television and eliminate any other distractions.
• Observe your child
Observing how your infant spends his time will let you realize that he is not just lying there but is actively doing something.
• Let your baby decide
Allowing your baby to choose what he can do in his play area rather than forcing him to do something you chose can distract your child’s focus, interest, and concentration.
• Avoid Distraction
Disturbing your baby’s thoughts can break his concentration. Avoid distracting your infant with a toy on the diaper changing table.
Summary
Childhood memories are typically short-term until the age of three when children begin to form long-term memory patterns. Parents can play an important role in their child’s memory development by engaging in memory-boosting activities and exercises.
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