Boosting Your Child’s Memory and Concentration Through Reading

All parents want their kids to have the best possible start in life, and be happy, healthy and successful. One of the most important things we can do to help our children achieve these goals is to encourage a love of reading. Reading not only helps children develop language, literacy and communication skills, but they can also help boost your child’s memory and concentration.

In this guide to boosting your child’s memory and concentration through reading, we’ll explore the many benefits of reading for kids, as well as provide tips on how you can use reading to help your child develop new skills. 

The Benefits of Reading for Memory & Concentration

Reading is a great way to boost children’s memory and concentration. When children read, they are required to focus their attention on the text, which helps improve their concentration skills. Reading also helps children develop their memory skills by requiring them to remember details about the characters, plot, and setting.

Research has shown reading can have a positive impact on children’s cognitive development. It’s been found kids who read or are read to frequently have better language skills, higher cognitive scores and have a better working memory to hold and manipulate information in the mind than children who did not read.

“Reading to our kids from as young as birth can help instigate that interest in stories and books. As they grow, they’ll be more likely to reach for books, giving kids so many opportunities to learn about the world, as well as its benefits for their memory and concentration.”

With everything from story and picture books to activity and Busy Books, there are books to get every child interested in reading. 

Tips for Using Reading to Boost Your Child’s Memory & Concentration

Read aloud to your child.

Reading aloud to your child is a great way to help them develop their memory and concentration skills. When you read aloud, your child is required to focus their attention on the text, which helps improve their concentration skills. Reading aloud also helps children develop their memory skills by requiring them to remember details about the story.

Encourage your child to read independently. 

Encouraging your child to read independently is another great way to help them develop their memory and concentration skills. When children read independently, they are required to focus their attention on the text, which helps improve their concentration skills. Reading independently also helps children develop their memory skills by requiring them to remember details about the story.

Use Busy Books to keep kids engaged.

Busy Books are a great tool for reinforcing memory and concentration skills in children. Most Busy Books are designed to require some level of concentration and memory, whether it’s a game to find an object or complete a puzzle, or requiring kids to remember a certain character’s name or a shape. 

“Busy Books can be used in the home, classroom or even in the office of children’s health practitioner’s to not only help kids develop many different skills, but also in helping parents, guardians and child professionals measure progress at different ages too.” 

At Busy Books Australia, we have designed every book to be fun and engaging, encouraging kids to get immersed in their activities and the story to help with their memory and concentration. The books come in different levels to help kids at all stages in their development at any age, which level up with them and their skills. 

Ask questions about the story.

Asking your child questions about the story is a great way to help them develop their memory skills. When you ask questions, your child is required to remember details about the story, which helps improve their memory skills.

When asking your child questions about a story, try asking them immediately after reading the book, and then at other times too, like at dinner time. Having your child recall information will help them with both their concentration and memory development. By asking questions, they will also see you as engaged and interested in what they are doing, encouraging them to read more and speak about what they have read, further honing their concentration and memory development.

Frequently Asked Questions About Reading to Boost Concentration & Memory in Kids

How can I help my child remember information better?

Encouraging active learning is one of the best ways to help your child remember information better. Encourage your child to explain the information they are learning to you or a sibling or friend. Make it a challenge to see how much they can remember. Then, go back and review any of the material your child was unsure about. 

Bite-size amounts of information are easier to remember, so break down information into smaller, more manageable pieces. Use multisensory approaches, such as reading aloud, having a conversation and using props. This helps engage your child with the material in more than one way, making it easier to connect with the material. Providing visuals can also help your child remember information. Use diagrams, pictures, and other visual aids to help your child understand and remember the information. 

What is the relationship between reading and concentration?

Reading and concentration are closely related. Reading requires concentration, and the more a child reads, the better their concentration skills become. 

Research has shown reading can help improve children’s working memory, which is the ability to hold and manipulate information in the mind. Reading also requires children to focus their attention on the text, which helps improve their concentration skills. When children read, they are required to use their working memory to remember details about the characters, plot, and setting. By reading regularly, children can improve their concentration skills and develop their working memory, which can help them succeed in school and in life.

What are some active reading strategies that can help with memory?

Active reading strategies can help children improve their memory skills while reading. Here are some examples of active reading strategies that can help with memory:

• Identify unfamiliar words and phrases: Encourage your child to identify unfamiliar words and phrases while reading. This can help them remember the meaning of the words and phrases.
• Make notes, outlines or highlights: Encourage your child to make notes, outlines, or highlights while reading. This can help them remember important information and key points.
• Learn the main idea: Encourage your child to learn the main idea of what they are reading. This can help them remember the overall message or theme of the text.
• Ask questions: Encourage your child to ask questions while reading. This can help them remember information and engage with the text.
• Read in a focused, speedy way: Encourage your child to read in a focused, speedy way. This can help them stay engaged with the text and remember important information.

What are some ways to encourage my child to ask questions while reading?

Encouraging children to ask questions while reading can help them improve their memory skills. Giving your child sticky notes and encouraging them to write down any questions they may have while reading can help them remember questions they may have and refer back to them later. 

Other ways to encourage your child to ask questions while reading include having them connect the story to real life and by asking open-ended questions that don’t require a yes, no or one-word response. This will help your child see the story through different eyes and consider different elements or characters in a more personal light, encouraging questions and explorations of how this would impact them or the world. 

What are some benefits of using Busy Books to reinforce memory and concentration skills?

Busy Books are an effective tool for reinforcing memory and concentration skills in kids, amongst many other skills. By using interactive activities and storylines, kids are more likely to concentrate and remember what they are reading. 

Many Busy Books also require kids to remember certain aspects of a story or elements to complete activities later on in the book to encourage memory and concentration. Kids learn how to do this with real-life examples throughout the books, helping them apply their memory and concentration skills in play, with friends and family, and out in the world.