The length of time for which you remember something has to do with the way the brain categorizes that memory.

Human memory involves the ability to both preserve and recover information we have learned or experienced.

If we only had sensory memory, we wouldn’t remember anything at all, because things would disappear after a few seconds.

Fortunately, we have short-term and long-term memory.

Memory is essential to learning, but it also depends on learning because the information stored in one’s memory creates the basis for linking new knowledge by association. It is a symbiotic or reciprocal relationship which continues to change and grow throughout our lives.

The 3 stages in creating memory are as follows:

1. Information begins in sensory memory, then
2. Moves to short-term memory, and eventually moves to
3. Long-term memory

Short-Term Memory

Short-term memory is that brief period of time where you can recall information you were just exposed to. Short-term often encompasses anywhere from 30 seconds to a few days, depending on who is using the term.

How does short-memory impact learning?

Most people associate memory loss of any kind with the elderly, but did you know that children can experience short term memory loss?

Yes, children sometimes struggle with impaired memory function.

Students often have “gaps” in their knowledge of basic skills because they tune in and out in the classroom. They are often reluctant to engage in tasks, such as schoolwork and homework, which require sustained mental effort.

In order for information to be encoded [processed] in memory, it must first be attended to. So, children who have deficits in attention often have trouble with the short-term memory process.

Even when children with deficits in their attention attend to the appropriate information, they may only attend at a very superficial level. Therefore, they fail to elaborate on the incoming information.

They do not activate prior knowledge and relate it to the to-be-learned information. This failure to sufficiently elaborate on incoming information often results in deficits in storage and retrieval.

How do you know that your child is having short-term memory issues?

1. They may have trouble remembering directions or what they have just read.
2. They may also have trouble remembering what their teachers said during class instruction.
3. They may even have trouble remembering what others said during conversations.

These deficits may be more pronounced in one modality than another. For example, visual, auditory or kinesthetic.

Short-term memory acts like an access door to long-term memory, or like a storage room that makes it possible to retain information that we won’t necessarily need in the future, but we need in the moment.

Any damage to short-term memory can affect acquisition of new memories into long-term memory.

Long-term Memory

Long-term memory encompasses memories that range from a few days to decades. In order for successful learning to take place, information has to move from the sensory or the short-term memory to the long-term memory.

Long-term memory not only stores all the significant events that mark our lives, it lets us retain the meanings of words and the physical skills that we have learned. Its capacity seems unlimited, and it can last days, months, years, or even an entire lifetime!

Usually, when we talk about remembering something, we are referring to long-term memory.

It is unknown how long information in long-term memory can last. Similarly, it is equally unknown how much information long-term memory can store.

Today, we will distinguish 2 main types of long-term memory:

1. Declarative (explicit)
2. Non-declarative (implicit)

Declarative memory is your memory of all those things that you are aware of remembering and that you can describe in words, such as your birthday, or the meaning of the word “cradle”, or what you ate last night. This form of memory is also called explicit memory, because you can name and describe each of these remembered things explicitly.

Non-declarative memory is also known as implicit (understood/Embedded) memory, because you express it by means other than words. For example, when you ride a bike, juggle some balls, or simply tie your shoelaces, you are expressing memories of motor skills that do not require the use of language. Such “motor memories” are just one type of implicit memory.

Why is Long-term Memory Important?

If the ability to store and retrieve information is poor, wrong conclusions and wrong answers will result.

How can you help your child to retain information in their long-term memory?

1. Give related ideas or examples of the content.
2. Make purposeful connections and associations with prior knowledge.
3. Organize information, such as categorizing it into subsets,
4. Practice, practice, practice.

Today, more than ever before, parents need to pay attention to all aspects of learning, and everything that influences learning. Memory depends on learning, but learning also depends on memory.

What will you do to help a child improve long-term memory retention?