It can be easy to take your child's non-verbal development for granted because it is hard for them to communicate with you. However, you can boost their memory by playing simple games with them during these early years of their life.
Non-Verbal Memory Develops Early in Children
Studies have shown that very young children who don't verbalize can actually remember a lot more than you might imagine. They are particularly skilled at mnemonic memory or remembering items linked with certain aspects of their life. For example, a non-verbal child may be able to point out a family member when asked.
These skills reveal that it is important to take the time to boost a child's memory long before they start to talk. Improving these skills while they are still in the crib can help prepare them for success later in life. It may seem impossible to manage this task on your own. However, you can use memory games with non-verbal children to help boost their skills.
How Memory Games Help
Memory games are fun for non-verbal children because it allows them to interact with you in a variety of ways. For example, a young child may be able to identify the color red from memory before they can talk. Showcasing different red items to them will help improve their memory of this color and make it easier for them to identify it later.
Similar games like these are often played with children when they reach preschool and elementary school. However, teaching your children with these games from a very young age will help them master these skills long before they go to school.
Playing Memory Games with Children
Even if your children aren't able to talk to you about the memory games you play together, you can still use them to help boost their skills. For example, you can hide a toy behind your back in one hand. Let the child see where you place the toy. Now, ask them to point out where the toy is located. This simple game will force them to remember the positioning of something outside of their sight.
You can expand this game as your child gets older. For example, you can ask them where the toy was the last time you placed it behind your back. This will strengthen their memory by forcing them to think back to a time that may be several steps back from the current time. Other exercises can also help to boost their memory skills.
Don't hesitate to talk to a professional educator to learn more about how you can use memory-building exercises with your child. Using them regularly can help your child develop even better verbal skills when they are older, and help them retain important information later in life. To learn more, talk to companies like Brain Paths today.