Preschool age children have difficulties in remembering lists of information such as directions, lists of numbers, or the proper procedure of how to to do something. The difficulty derives from their low level of skill to use memory strategies. Memory strategies are not only used by children, but adults as well. They are deliberate mental activities that improve the chances of remembering. Preschool age children have difficulty holding onto pieces of information and applying a strategy at the same time. Preschoolers are more inclined to remember repeated events such as preschool or dinner routines. A script is a general description of what occurs and when it occurs in a particular situation. As a child's age increases, their scripts grow as well in terms of number of mental entries in a sequence. Scripts support children's efforts at planning by helping them represent sequences of actions that lead to desired goals. Talking with your child on an eye level about his or her's own desires can allow parents to possibly understand their reasoning for wanting something in particular or acting in a certain way.
Jacob Hughes
This is interesting. We did not get a chance to talk about infantile amnesia in the class, but it is a rather interesting concept and in line with what you have said in your post. Apparently, we do not remember anything from the first 2-3 years of your life because our limbic system is not yet well developed.
ReplyDeleteTeaching children to follow simple directions takes time and patience. I raised two girls. The loved to go grocery shopping with me. I would devide the grocery list into two parts. Each child would take their respective list and procede to shop. I always stayed close to the youngest. I was amazed at how much she could find on her own. When the girls got older and started helping me cook, I would let them make parts of our meals. I let them pick out a recipe that they wanted to make. Sometimes we had funny meals, but we ate them. These 2 simple things, shopping and cooking, taught them a lot about following directions. Is was a fun way to learn. I have learned so much from this class as to why children think and do the things they do.
ReplyDeleteSusan Davis