How Can Kids Build Executive Function and Boost Working Memory?
One of the biggest challenges for children with ADHD is dealing with limitations in their working memory—the ability to hold onto information just long enough to use it. Working memory plays a key role in how the brain stores information for future use, so when it’s weak, it can make it harder for your child to focus, follow directions, retain information, and learn effectively.
It’s normal for many young children to struggle with working memory. However, kids with ADHD may also experience additional challenges with executive functioning—the mental processes that allow us to plan, prioritize, and complete tasks. These combined difficulties can create significant obstacles both in the classroom and at home.
As a parent, you’re probably always looking for ways to help your child succeed. While improving working memory can feel like an uphill battle, there are strategies you can teach your child to help them navigate day-to-day challenges, whether at school or at home.
Over recent years, there’s been a surge in apps, websites, and computer games designed to help boost brain function in children with ADHD, including working memory. While some studies suggest these tools can be beneficial, researchers remain cautious, as the evidence on their real-world effectiveness is still inconclusive.
However, there is encouraging research showing that a combination of medication and practical training techniques can significantly enhance your child's working memory. With the right approach and consistent practice, your child can make strides toward better focus, attention, and overall success.
How to Help Your Child Improve Their Working Memory
Supporting your child in strengthening their working memory and executive function skills can feel overwhelming, but with the right approach, it’s completely achievable. By incorporating practical, engaging activities into your daily routine, you can help your child build the foundational skills needed for planning, organization, and self-management, allowing them to focus, retain information, and thrive both in school and at home.
There are several ways to assist your child with working memory and executive function challenges, many of which are fun and interactive! Let’s dive into some effective strategies that will boost their cognitive abilities while also enhancing skills such as task initiation, attention management, and self-confidence.
Repeat Information
Repetition is crucial for helping your child internalize new information. Saying instructions multiple times allows your child to hear, digest, and eventually retain the information. It’s a natural way for them to become more familiar with what’s being asked of them, making it easier to remember over time.
For example, when learning new vocabulary words, repeat the words and their meanings several times throughout the day. This reinforcement will help those words stick, improving their recall in both the short and long term.
Play Memory and Card Games
Boost your child’s working memory skills while having fun together! Card games, like Go Fish or Uno, require them to remember rules, track which cards they’ve played, and recall what other players have done. Choose games that fit your child’s current abilities, so they stay challenged but not frustrated.
Memory board games are also excellent for practicing holding onto information. Even verbal games, such as the license plate game, are a simple yet effective way to engage their memory. Take turns reciting numbers and letters from passing cars, and repeat them back to one another—this helps your child sharpen their listening and recall skills in a playful, low-pressure setting.
Build on Skills
Once your child has mastered a basic task or skill, it’s important to keep them challenged by slowly increasing the difficulty. Studies show that gradually adding complexity to tasks helps children with ADHD improve their working memory.
For example, if your child has learned to complete a simple homework assignment, try introducing steps like organizing their study space or managing their time better. Increasing the difficulty in small increments helps them stretch their abilities while avoiding frustration.
Give Short Instructions
When giving your child multiple directions at once, it’s easy for them to feel overwhelmed. Instead, break instructions down into smaller, more manageable parts to help them process and remember each step. Giving short, clear instructions allows your child to focus on one task at a time without overloading their memory.
For example, if you’re asking them to get ready in the morning, start by giving them two tasks—such as brushing their teeth and getting dressed—before moving on to the next step. Breaking things down into smaller pieces helps your child feel more in control and reduces stress.
Let Your Child Teach You
One powerful way to reinforce your child’s learning is to let them take on the role of the teacher. Teaching someone else forces them to process and organize the information in their minds, strengthening their ability to hold onto and use that knowledge.
When your child is practicing a new skill, like solving a math problem or learning how to tie their shoes, ask them to teach it to you. Whether it’s demonstrating a task or explaining a concept, this active learning strategy enhances their working memory while building their confidence in a fun, interactive way.
Use Visuals
Visual aids can be incredibly effective for children with ADHD, especially in supporting both working memory and executive function skills. Tools like images, lists, or post-it notes can serve as reminders, visually breaking down tasks into manageable steps. These visual references not only help your child stay on track but also ease the demands on their working memory, allowing them to better plan and organize tasks.
If your child struggles with remembering daily routines, consider creating a visual to-do list and placing it in a prominent location, like the fridge. By checking off tasks as they go, they’ll experience a sense of accomplishment and build essential executive function skills like task initiation, sequencing, and self-monitoring, all while staying focused on what’s next.
Encourage Active Reading
Active reading is a fantastic tool for improving memory retention. Encourage your child to take notes, underline important parts, or discuss what they’ve just read with you. By engaging directly with the material, they’ll retain more information and improve both their short-term and long-term memory.
As they read, ask them questions about the story or passage to prompt further thinking. Discussing details like character motivations or key events will deepen their understanding and make the reading process more interactive, helping them to better absorb the content.
Help Your Child Make Connections
One of the best ways to help your child remember information is by making it fun and relatable. Create clever sayings, rhymes, or songs to assist them in recalling tasks or facts, like using "Roy G Biv" for the colors of the rainbow. Associating difficult concepts with something memorable will make learning enjoyable and effective for your child.
Avoid Distractions
Reducing distractions is crucial when your child is focusing on homework, learning a new task, or reading. Limit noise and minimize visual interruptions like TV and screens to create a calm environment where your child can concentrate better.
This will help them stay focused and give their working memory a better chance to succeed.
Help Your Child Make Connections
One of the best ways to help your child remember information is by making it fun and relatable. Create clever sayings, rhymes, or songs to assist them in recalling tasks or facts, like using "Roy G Biv" for the colors of the rainbow. Associating difficult concepts with something memorable will make learning enjoyable and effective for your child.
Avoid Distractions
Reducing distractions is essential for supporting your child’s working memory and executive function skills, especially when they are focusing on homework, learning a new task, or reading. Limiting noise and minimizing visual interruptions, like TV and screens, helps create a calm environment where they can concentrate and practice skills like sustained attention and impulse control.
This focused setting supports their ability to stay on task, ultimately strengthening their working memory and reinforcing essential executive function skills that are critical for academic and personal success.
Other Tips
Building working memory is a gradual process, much like strengthening a muscle—it requires time, practice, and consistency. Children have unique learning styles, so explore different techniques until you find the ones that resonate with your child.
Consider using tools like to-do lists, planners, or notebooks where your child can jot down important details to avoid relying solely on memory. Keep an eye on their progress, and most importantly, celebrate small achievements to keep them motivated!
Be patient: Improving working memory takes time, and results won't happen overnight. Make it a habit to celebrate small wins along the way, as these milestones will boost your child’s motivation and confidence to keep pushing forward. Positive reinforcement will keep them engaged in the learning process and make progress feel achievable.
Create Routines
Establishing consistent routines can be a game changer when helping your child develop their working memory. Simple daily routines, like a set schedule for mornings or evenings, can reinforce habits and make tasks easier to remember.
Even at school, routines help—work with their teacher to ensure processes like turning in homework or organizing their materials become second nature.
Conclusion
Helping your child improve their working memory and executive function skills is not only possible but can be an enjoyable process with the right tools and techniques. Whether you’re playing memory-based games, using visual aids, or breaking down instructions, each step supports their ability to plan, organize, and follow through on tasks, building essential skills for success.
By incorporating these strategies into daily life—both at home and in the classroom—you’ll equip your child with a stronger foundation for learning, focusing, and thriving. With patience and consistent practice, you’ll see positive changes in their confidence, attention, and capacity to manage tasks independently and effectively.
Frequently Asked Questions
How can I tell if my child has weak working memory?
Signs of weak working memory, which is integral to executive function, may include difficulty following instructions, forgetting tasks, and trouble retaining information in school. If your child frequently struggles to remember multi-step directions or loses focus easily, it may be time to explore strategies that target both working memory and executive function skills.
Can working memory be improved through diet?
Yes, certain foods, such as those rich in omega-3 fatty acids (found in fish and flaxseeds), support brain health and cognitive function, including executive processes like attention and memory. A balanced diet with fruits, vegetables, and whole grains can aid concentration, focus, and memory retention.
What role does sleep play in my child’s working memory?
Adequate sleep is vital for memory consolidation and brain development, directly impacting executive function skills like focus and task management. Ensuring your child gets enough rest each night will enhance their attention, learning ability, and overall working memory capacity.
Can physical exercise help improve working memory?
Yes, physical activity improves cognitive function, including working memory, by boosting blood flow to the brain and promoting neuroplasticity. Regular exercise not only benefits your child's physical health but also strengthens executive function skills like focus and information retention.
What are some classroom strategies to help children with weak working memory?
Teachers can support both working memory and executive function by using visual aids, breaking tasks into smaller, manageable steps, and providing frequent check-ins to ensure your child remains focused. These techniques help reduce cognitive overload, making learning more accessible and manageable for children with memory challenges.