If your child has been diagnosed with poor executive function skills, you may be wondering exactly what that means. Executive function skills are not discussed as widely as other areas of learning and many parents hear about these skills for the first time from a counselor or only after their child’s executive function abilities are deemed inadequate. Let’s demystify what that means.
Executive function skills are the basic building blocks of learning. They are the skills necessary to learn new information and commit that learning to long-term memory so we can recall and use the information in the future. In essence, executive function skills are the operating system of our brain – the base learning skills that enable other areas of learning.
Because executive function skills are so foundational to memory, learning, and education, we’ll look at each core executive function skill in depth in our series on executive function skills and their importance to child learning. In this article, we focus on working memory – one of seven essential executive function areas.
What is Working Memory?
Working memory is the temporary workspace where our brains hold and manipulate information for short-term needs in order to complete tasks. It's like the whiteboard in our minds where we can temporarily jot down important notes to help us solve problems, follow instructions, and make decisions.
Why is Working Memory Important?
Working memory is essential to learning new information. Without a strong working memory, tasks that require focus, attention, and organization become difficult or impossible for students. Working memory provides a spot for our brains to store information, modify that information with additional instructions (such as in solving math problems), and provide a new, updated answer. Working memory is critical to situations that involve multi-step instructions, such as word problems or correctly following a series of given tasks.
How Is Working Memory Involved with Learning?
Working memory plays a vital role in learning in several key areas:
Following Directions: When the teacher gives multi-step instructions, a child with strong working memory can retain each step in memory while completing them one by one. Students who have issues with working memory may be unable to complete this series of instructions accurately.
Problem-Solving: Whether it's solving math problems, understanding complex concepts, or grasping new ideas, working memory helps children hold relevant information in mind while applying strategies to find solutions. In story problems, for example, students may need to remember the number of children wearing green shirts while working to extrapolate the number of children wearing yellow shirts.
Reading Comprehension: When reading, working memory allows students to remember and connect information from earlier parts of the text with what they're currently reading, enhancing reading comprehension.
Organization and Planning: Planning projects, organizing tasks, and managing time effectively all rely on the ability to hold and manipulate information in working memory.
Working memory is an essential learning function. Acquiring new skills often requires the ability to retain a certain piece of information in memory while adding new information to our understanding or evaluating new information based on the current information already stored.
Signs of working memory issues
If you are concerned about your child’s learning skills, you may have noticed signs that your child is struggling to learn and process new information.
If your child has been diagnosed with ADHD, working memory issues could very well be present as well. Working memory deficits are linked to difficulties in attention, reading and language. (Source)
Here are some common signs to look out for that may indicate your child has challenges with working memory:
Difficulty Following Multi-Step Directions: Individuals with working memory issues may struggle to remember and execute multiple steps in a sequence, such as following instructions for a task or completing a series of actions.
Forgetfulness: Frequent forgetfulness of important details, appointments, or instructions can indicate working memory difficulties.
Trouble Remembering Information: Difficulty recalling information shortly after learning it, such as forgetting what was just said in a conversation or forgetting details from a recently read article may be a sign of working memory challenges.
Poor Organization: Difficulty organizing thoughts, materials, or tasks. Your child may struggle to keep track of belongings, maintain a tidy room, or plan and execute tasks effectively.
Difficulty Concentrating: Working memory difficulties can interfere with sustained attention and concentration, leading to distractibility and difficulty staying focused on tasks, particularly those that require mental effort.
Struggles with Problem-Solving: Difficulty solving problems or reasoning through complex tasks. Your child may display difficulty holding and manipulating relevant information in their mind.
Slow Processing Speed: Individuals with working memory challenges may take longer to process and respond to information, as they may need additional time to encode, store, and retrieve relevant details from memory.
Impaired Academic Performance: Working memory difficulties can show up in multiple areas of learning, including reading comprehension, math problem-solving, writing, and overall academic achievement.
Difficulty with Verbal and Non-Verbal Tasks: Working memory deficits can affect both verbal and non-verbal tasks, such as remembering spoken instructions, recalling visual information, or mentally manipulating objects in space.
Struggles with Learning New Skills: Difficulties in learning and retaining new information or skills, despite repeated exposure and practice, may indicate underlying working memory challenges.
These symptoms only serve as a guide to a possible underlying concern with working memory. It is not a definitive diagnosis. If your child has persistent challenges with working memory that significantly impact daily functioning, seeking an evaluation from a qualified healthcare professional, such as a psychologist or neuropsychologist, can help you to identify underlying issues and develop an appropriate action plan.
The good news is that children who are deficient in working memory can improve their ability to store and recall information from working memory. In fact, there are things you can do as a parent that will help your child improve their working memory.
How to Improve Your Child's Working Memory:
Break Tasks into Smaller Steps: You can improve working memory by helping your child break down larger tasks into smaller, more manageable tasks, allowing them to focus on one step at a time.
Provide Visual Aids: Visual supports, such as checklists, graphic organizers, or diagrams, can offload some of the demands on working memory by providing external guides to assist in memory recall.
Practice on Working Memory: Like any skill, working memory can improve with practice. Encourage activities that challenge your child's memory, such as memory games, puzzles, or storytelling.
Offer Encouragement and Patience: Children who struggle with working memory are often their own harshest critics. They see others excelling in areas where they do not. It is important to recognize and celebrate your child's efforts and offer patience and encouragement as they work to strengthen their working memory skills. Remember, progress may take time, but with consistent practice and support, improvements are possible.
Executive Function Tutoring
While working individually with your child is always helpful, it may not be enough to help them develop to the level needed. For some children, seeking professional help with executive function coaches may be the best approach.
One of the best steps you can take to help your child improve their working memory is to hire a coach who is trained and experienced at addressing working memory issues. At CoPilot EF, we have expertly trained tutors who specifically address executive function skills, including working memory issues.
Get Help for Your Child
If your child is struggling with school, has difficulty learning, or is avoiding school, problems with executive function ability may be the underlying cause. CoPilot EF can help your child develop the foundational learning skills necessary to succeed at school.
Our tutors are thoroughly trained in executive dysfunction, including ways to increase and improve working memory. Signing your child up for an initial learning skills coaching session is an excellent step to helping your child overcome executive dysfunction, learn fundamental learning skills, and improve their attitude and confidence about school and the learning process.