Language Memory Strategies: 5 Ways to Help Recall

For school-age children and teenagers, language memory strategies can help with recalling directions, lists, studying for tests, and other important information. It can be frustrating when a child or teen struggles to remember instructions for an assignment, or when they’re asked to complete a couple of chores at home and only remember the first one. Here are five helpful strategies to improve memory.

1. Chunking

This strategy involves grouping information into smaller chunks so it’s easier to recall. For example, if your child needs to remember to brush their teeth, wash their face, put their pajamas on, and put dirty clothes in the hamper, they could chunk the four tasks into two groups: “brush teeth, wash face” and “pajamas on, clothes in hamper.” Now there are two chunks to recall instead of four separate tasks. According to cognitive research on working memory, chunking is one of the most effective ways to expand how much information the brain can hold at once.

2. Linking

The linking strategy works great for lists. It involves connecting items together by imagining silly situations. For example, when linking a grocery list of apples, milk, and bread, picture apples swimming in a glass of milk, then imagine milk pouring over bread like a waterfall. These silly images that connect one thing to the next stick in memory far better than a plain list of items. You can even draw out the silly pictures for extra reinforcement.

3. Semantic Mapping

This memory strategy can be drawn out on paper or visualized in your head. It involves connecting information within a topic on a web-like map, based on personal experience or how the information relates. For example, to recall a group of animals that can camouflage, group them based on their similarities. Draw or picture a map with “camouflage animals” in the middle, then draw lines out to each animal: arctic fox, arctic rabbit, chameleon, tree frog. From there, connect arctic fox and arctic rabbit because they both live in the arctic, and connect chameleon and tree frog because they’re both reptiles. This strategy helps the brain make connections, which makes information easier to recall.

4. Imagery

Visualizing information as pictures or words in your mind can help commit it to memory. The more detailed the mental image, the more vivid it becomes in memory. Check out our blog on visualizing and verbalizing for more detail on this strategy as a tool for comprehension.

5. Rehearsal

Rehearsal simply means repeating information over and over in your mind to commit it to long-term memory. Start by practicing for short intervals, then gradually increase the length of time required to remember information. You can also combine strategies, using one of the methods above first, then rehearsing the information you chunked, linked, mapped, or imagined.

Partner With Enrichment Therapy & Learning Center

While forgetfulness can be frustrating, these language memory strategies can genuinely help when practiced and reinforced over time. Enrichment Therapy & Learning Center facilitates exercises like these to help children achieve their social, personal, and academic potential. Schedule a call with us to discuss partnering in leading your child down a path to success.