Memory is one of the necessary conditions for the development of a child’s intellectual abilities. Particularly large memory requirements are made by schooling. Systematic, targeted mastery of knowledge and skills implies a certain level of development of children’s memory.
All parents of the future first-graders dream of their child successfully starting school. This largely depends on how well the child has developed memory, whether the child can quickly and accurately memorize the material of the lesson.
Parents and teachers complain about the poor memory of the child, especially in the 1st grade. A first-grader often does not remember what is set on the house, what needs to be brought from school supplies the next day, etc.
At the same time, parents say that their child remembers television ads admirably or can accurately retell another series.
The fact is that in the first case, voluntary memorization is required, and in the second, involuntary is based on interest and emotions.
If special exercises are conducted with the child, then the formation of the randomness of memorization is faster. Using various auxiliary means for memorizing, you can develop a mediated memory in your baby, increase the speed and volume of memorization.
The following games and exercises will help the development of voluntary and verbal – logical memory in a child.
1. The game “10 pictures”
The child is invited to consider 10 subject pictures, then they turn over, and the child needs to remember and name the objects depicted.
2. Exercise “What has changed?”
The child is given the following instruction: “Look at the picture and remember everything that is painted on it.” The child examines the picture for 1 minute. Then another picture is shown in which some details are changed. The child must remember and name the difference between the pictures.
3. Game on the development of visual memory “Fold a figure out of sticks.”Â
Layout the sticks in front of the child, from which make any simple figure (house, square, triangle, etc.). Ask the child to look carefully at this figure for 2 seconds, then close this figure and ask to repeat, fold the same.
To complicate this game, you can add a shape from sticks of different colors. The child must remember the location of the sticks by color and then fold the figure on their own.
4. Laying out a pattern from a mosaic.
An adult puts a number or letter from a mosaic, a simple pattern, or some kind of picture. Then the child must layout the same picture from memory.
5. Laying out patterns from geometric shapes.
The child is invited to consider the pattern of geometric shapes, remember their location, and after 10 seconds to reproduce the pattern from memory.
6. The game “I am the camera.”
Invite the child to introduce himself as a camera that can take pictures of any subject, situation, person, etc.
7. Exercise “Remember a few words”
The child is read out a couple of words that he should try to remember. You can also give them a memory book for baby to read.
Then only the first words are readout, and the child calls paired to them.
8. Draw and Remember Exercise
If the child finds it difficult to repeat the words that you told him, give him paper and pencils. Invite each word to make a drawing that would help him, then remember these words. This technique can significantly increase the productivity of memorization.
9. Exercise “Cascade of words” develops the volume of short-term auditory memory.Â
Prepare in advance a list of 8 to 10 groups of words that are familiar to the child. Ask him to repeat your words. Start with one word, then name two words, the child necessarily repeats in the same sequence, three words, etc. (word spacing – 1 second)
- House
- Table, winter
- Cup, road, window
- School, snow, book, ball
- Pencil, chalk, mushroom, lunch, forest
- Cat, clock, morning, mouse, field, elephant
- Cabinet, maple, chair, crab, sofa, river, raspberries
The number of words that a child can repeat after you is the volume of his auditory short-term memory for words. A child of 6-7 years old correctly reproduces a series of 5-6 words.
10. Learning poems
For the development of the memory of a child of 5 – 6 years old, especially auditory, one can recommend memorizing poems. Learning poetry should be accompanied by a conversation. Read the child a short poem once. If a preschooler can immediately repeat, then this indicates a high level of memory. For better memorization, invite the child to draw what the poem says. Then you need to discuss with the child everything that he drew. After this, you should learn the poem. If less than 10 repetitions are required, this indicates a good memory of the child.
