Put on your socks, wash your hands, get your bag and I’ll meet you outside.”
Working memory is so important for a variety of situations that a child faces. Did you know that improving working memory can improve fluid intelligence and the levels of brain chemicals important for learning?
Fun ways to improve working memory
- Exercise! Not only is physical exercise important for health, it is also connected to the formation of new brain cells. Don’t let your children be couch potatoes these holidays.
- Play games together that involve memory. Examples are scrabble, sudoku, taboo and card games.
- Learn something new – a craft or a new computer program for example. Going on holiday? Learn some phrases in a foreign language (if you’re going somewhere where English is spoken, get creative by researching which other languages are commonly spoken there).
- Eat healthy – school holidays often mean more fast food and junk food. Plan ahead for snacks and meals that include nutrients that stimulate brain function – the best sources are berries, nuts and seeds, citrus fruits, green tea, spinach, tomatoes and sweet potatoes.
- Play memory games while travelling – for example, each child builds on a sentence the other began (“I went to the shop and bought an apple, I went to the shop and bought an apple and a can of coke…”)
- Get plenty of sleep – as tempting as it is to stay up late in the holidays, good quality sleep at consistent times is very important for the brain.
- Participate in a school holiday working memory program – learn more about the Cogmed program here or contact our team to discuss how your child could benefit from a school holiday program.
References
Jaeggi, S., Buschkuehl, M., Jonides, J., Perrig, W.J. (2008). Improving fluid intelligence with training on working memory. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. Download PDF
McNab, F., Varrone, A., Farde, L., Jucaite, A., Bystritsky, P., Forssberg, H., Klingberg, T. (2008). Changes in Cortical Dopamine D1 Receptor Binding Associated with Cognitive Training. Science, 323, pp.800-802. Download PDF
Interested in learning more about Sonic Learning’s programs? Contact our team of health and education professionals to discuss your child’s learning.
