Total Recall Happens— babies and kids do remember

One of the mysteries has been solved. Babies younger than 8-9 months old do remember and have specific memories. For a long time, the question has baffled researchers, doctors, as well as parents—whether children have the power to remember or does memory develop later in life.

Did you know , that there are three distinct memory stores in the child’s brain? They are the sensory register, short-term memory store, and long-term memory store. This is where experiences are retained, stored, and recalled.

Memory as you know , plays a crucial part in learning and intelligence. And , in order to enhance memory , you would need to promote aspects like focused attention, associated ideas, and repetition in your kids.

It is Really up to You

Many of us grew up thinking that thinking power and memory were inherited - that is why some people are average while others are geniuses. This is a myth, research proves that you the parent can raise your child’s intelligence and improve memory greatly.

All you need to do is be a caring parent and devote time to the child. Nurturing is what creates a child who is caring, loving, and giving.

First you must never think negative thoughts. Children can feel your inner emotions and unexpressed feelings. A positive internal dialogue communicates to the child and enhances not just thinking but self-confidence.

Introduce breathing exercises as well as daily physical activities like gymnastics, jogging, sports, swimming, and so on. Do them with your child. Deep breathing and physical exercises stimulate a kid’s mental processes as well as overall performance.

Did you know, mental gymnastics can be done by playing games like checkers, chess, scrabble, word jumbles, and cryptograms and so on. These games stimulate the mind and enhance strategy skills. It is a proven fact that children who play such games have higher levels of perception and reasoning, and are able to concentrate well. Music and rhythm also introduce mental gymnastics and sharpen the mind greatly. Drum beats , ; songs with a rhythm, and so on are all beneficial to the child.

Make the home environment comfortable and warm. Be sure to converse with the children whenever you can. This develops their language skills right from birth to around 26 months of age and that to o at a very rapid rate. So, communicate as much as you can and introduce your child to the wonderful world of poetry, songs, and words.

One of the age-old methods to enhance intellectual potential, build vocabulary, enhance memory and attention span is repetitive reading - , so read to the kids when they are small young and repeat the same story time and again so that the child absorbs every nuance. You can create an ideal environment that is mentally stimulating by holding the baby close frequently.

You must , use expressions and gestures so that the child observes you . , R read aloud to the child, sing songs, and play music like Mozart. Enrich the child by taking the child to reading groups and story-telling programs at the local library, introduce the child to plays and concerts, travel far and wide with the child, interact at meal times, while driving, and at bed time.

The World of Memory Games

The easiest and most interesting way to help children sharpen their memories is to introduce them to different kinds of games.

For example you make up a limerick in which piggy goes to the market to buy his mother say cake, next repeat the rhyme and add one more object to the list—cake and soap. And, as your child repeats the lines he will need to stretch his memory to remember what all piggy needed to buy.

Another oft played game is to put out a jumble of objects on a table. Next allow the child or group of children to glance at the objects for say two minutes. Cover the objects with a cloth and ask each child to jot down a list of what is on the table. This will test their recall and by asking questions about the objects you could jog their memories. Play the game often and you will find that the kids become whizzes at it.

Technology has introduced great innovations in memory games and children are drawn to the wonderful 3D graphics and compelling tales that absorb their attention completely. These are not just entertaining but are designed with enhancement of brain power and memory as the ultimate goal. For example, Smart Neurons has designed several educational CDs and DVDs that integrate imagery with sound and words keeping the children engrossed by the changing contexts, including music as well as words and sentences that are a part of the child’s vocabulary and appropriate to the age group and developmental stage of the child.

Strategies You Can Adopt

There are many simple ways in which you can help your child perform better in at school, improve memory, and enhance the ability to focus, be organized and to set goals. In case you need help do speak to the child’s teacher or school counselor.

From childhood what helps children greatly is a set schedule or timetable. So, if you introduce a routine from when the child is an infant , the child will grow up being reasonably organized. Introduce a system of using colorful magnetic pins to put up reminders of work to be done. If a child observes you doing this , he or she will automatically adopt such methods.

Sit with the child and fashion a colorful reminder board for the kid’s room. Help the child by introducing a checklist system and a diary or chart on which the child can record things. Today children use the computer to organize themselves—the computer will even remind the kids of assignments and tests.

While varying the study schedule , try and help the child plan his or her work and set up an interesting timetable. Long hours of work are dreary, so plan on setting aside time for homework just after play so that the body and mind are refreshed.

You can make great strides by setting up a work area for the child in a quite corner of the house far from distractions. Sit with the child doing your own work or reading so that the child is not isolated or tempted to while away time. In case the child is off color or not in a good mood , postpone work for the day. It is best to work when the mind is eager to learn and not when feeling poorly.

Show the child how to make notes of key points by paraphrasing the text. Another trick you can introduce is to teach your kid to highlight or underline key words and phrases.

Humiliating a child is definitely to be avoided. Discover for yourself the magic of praise. Even small achievements and goals attained should be celebrated. Treat the child with respect; show her you appreciate every effort.

Set small achievable goals. Love your child dearly and accept that each child has different talents. Encourage special interests. Also stay attuned to the emotions and inner turmoil the child may be going through. Often children who are unhappy, ill, bear the brunt of teasing or bullies, insecure, or stressed, do not know how to communicate their troubles and so do poorly at school. If you notice anything then immediately try and get to the root of the matter. As a parent you must always keep lines of communication open with your kids so that they can confide in you, place their trust in you, and know that you will always be by their side.

There is no reason to fear the three R’s all you need to do is help your child help itself—show the kid how to tackle small and large problems without panic.

Author Information:

Article was contributed by Smart Neurons www.smartneurons.com . Smart Neurons offers kids’ educational software, video and other educational aids. Our products encourage critical thinking, imagination and leadership skills and are targeted to enhance a child’s educational experience. Children are encouraged to explore the world around them through fun and engaging activities. Through our products and software, Preschool children use their observations to expand their understanding of the world and develop their ability to express themselves.