QUESTION: Why is it so hard for my child to remember what they’ve just read?

ANSWER:

Reading plays a vital role in a child’s educational development. Sometimes children have trouble remembering what they read. I understand your concern about your child’s memory difficulties when reading. It’s every parent’s worry.

I’ll explain why this happens and give you a proven technique to help your child get better at remembering information.

First, understand that your child is not alone. Children across all age groups and reading levels can experience difficulties in recalling what they have read. This issue is not limited to academic textbooks or complex narratives; it can occur even with simple storybooks or articles.

Contributing Factors

1. Cognitive Development
   • Children’s memory capabilities are influenced by their cognitive development, which continues to grow throughout childhood. Studies have shown that as children get older and have more experiences, their brain gets better at remembering things.
2. Working Memory Limitations
   • Working memory is like the brain scratch pad. The key to understanding and retaining information lies in one’s working memory. If your child has a limited working memory capacity, they may have trouble remembering what they’ve read. According to research from Parenting Science, working memory problems can hinder even young children in their reading journey.
   • Children with learning differences, like dyslexia, frequently have poor working memory.
3. Lack of Active Engagement
   • Merely reading passively without actively engaging with the material can hinder memory recall. If your child is not interested in the material, they will not remember it very well. If the content does not make them curious, then they may not remember it for a long time.

To help your child improve their recall of what they read, help them make connections between what they’re reading and what they already know. This can provide a ‘hook’ for new information to hang on to, making it easier to recall later.

While it can be frustrating when your child struggles to recall what they’ve read, it’s important to remember that this is a common challenge and one that can be overcome with patience, practice, and the right strategies. With your support and guidance, you can help your child become a more effective reader and learner.

Remember, every child is unique, and it may take time and patience to find the strategies that work best for your child.

Reach out to me here, for a complimentary, personalized Learning Clarity Breakthrough session to work out specific strategies to help your child.