|  | Family Health | Childrens Health

Loss of Memory Retention in Children

Memory retention is the ability to retain information that has been learned. A loss of memory retention could result in poor behavior, academics and decisions, particularly when children lose the ability to retain their short-term memory. Although the cause of memory retention loss differs, there are a number of things children can do to improve their memory.

  1. Identification

    • It is easy to identify some of the underlying causes of poor memory retention. One of the most important is a lack of sleep. According to Scientific American, learning and the ability to remember what has been learned improves with adequate sleep. When well-rested children are paired against their sleepy counterparts, studies show the children who were well rested performed and remembered better than those who did not sleep well.

    Significance

    • A child's memory is important for everyday function. It is important for a child to remember things they have learned, whether they are at home or at school. A good memory allows children to remember what they learned about reading, mathematics and good behavior versus bad behavior. According to Medical News Today, a link was discovered that connects infant stress to a later decrease in brain cell communication that can lead to a further deficit in memory retention.

    Considerations

    • The human brain is complex, particularly a child's brain, which is still developing. A developing brain needs the proper sustenance to perform correctly. This includes proper eating habits. A study done by Rachel M. Schroll, a student from Saint Martin's University, showed memory retention and cognitive processes improved in students who ate a healthy breakfast.

    Fact

    • According to Medical News Today, more than 50 percent of the world's children are raised in a stressful environment. Although the genetic makeup of a child plays an important role in memory retention and cognitive function, decreasing the stress a child encounters can greatly improve their memory retention. It can also improve their behavior, which makes them want to learn and remember what they have learned.

    Prevention/Solution

    • There are a number of exercises children can do to improve their memory. It is best to think of the brain as a giant muscle that needs work to improve and become stronger. It is best to stimulate as many of the five senses--sound, sight, smell, touch and taste--as possible. It is also good to organize information that has been learned and to try to relate that information to something familiar.

Childrens Health - Related Articles