November 13, 2007 – 9:22 am
A child’s brain is continuously in the process of development during the first few years of his/her life. Along this progress, his/her capacity to hold things for recalling also increases and his memory is structured gradually to store greater amount of information for longer than before. The earliest memories start from around 3 months of age when the child feels the parent’s touch, hold, and other pleasurable memories that have been source of comfort and protection. These memories, however, cannot be consciously reproduced in later life. They are lost immediately after they occur.
It is by the time of about 8 months of age when the child starts remembering things and people after they are no more in sight. He/she usually shows some anxiety or uneasiness after the parent/caretaker is no longer in view, a normal part of his/her development. As the child’s mental development proceeds, he/she is expected to remember more; remember more clearly; and remember for a longer time. You can roughly size up your child’s memory as to whether or not his/her brain is keeping up with his/her age by using the following information.
One-year olds, one the average, will remember (recognize) the people he/she sees at least once a week. They can also remember basic sequence of things observed in daily life. Hence they show some degree of imitation (do what they see the parent/guardian doing). Remember that a one-year old is not expected to remember faces that he/she has seen only a couple of times.
One-and-a-half year (18 months) old kids will normally remember where his favorite stuff (toys, clothes, or food) is kept. But they don’t, except in unusual cases, remember the location of an item they saw the previous day or earlier.
Two-year old children would normally learn and remember simple tasks like putting their blocks away when the same is repeated before them a few times by a parent/elder. They have an appreciable degree of the mental map of their house or a familiar place (kitchen, bathroom, hall etc.) and what objects lie at what spot in these places. Even with that level of memory, they are not expected to learn or remember things in a single instance of demonstration.
Three-year olds can report instances of his/her life (like doing something a little earlier) in the exact sequence that they happened. They can fetch one or two tings (but not more) when asked by an elder. Their memory is still not equipped to help fetch several things at once.
Four-year old kids can be expected to recall the important events of the day that happened to them, especially those that interested them. However they should not be expected to recall all the things the way that grownups or older children do.
Five-year old children are ready to be scheduled for things. You may tell them to do something daily (put their teddy bear in their bag at night) and they can follow the instruction. However, they may not yet be ready for remembering all the things (school items for example) that are on the list.
Six-year olds are expected to remember to bring notes home from the school staff and remember that they are supposed to do some homework, though they may not remember to recall what that homework exactly is; unless they have got it written down for them.
14 Responses to “The Memory of Your Child”
I visit your blog on daily basis. It has been long since you last updated your blog. Very cute article.
By Mona on Nov 15, 2007
Thanks for sending me the url to your article, very nice one.
By Shanti on Nov 15, 2007
Cute!!!!! stumbled
By Priya on Nov 15, 2007
Awwww soo sweet
By Jiya on Nov 15, 2007
Very nice post, keep up the good work.
By meadow on Nov 15, 2007
I would want to appreciate the way you have written this article, because that is what I experienced when my child was 3 months old. I am sure you would be a good parent for your child :).
By Vibha on Nov 15, 2007
I completely agree with Vibha, I have started going to office when my baby was 6 months old, whenever i used to go to office, i don’t know somehow he got to know that his mommy is going to office, and i can’t tell you how much he used to cry. Now he is 2 and a half years and he still cries when i go to office :(. But i love him so much.
By shelly on Nov 15, 2007
I barely remember now how was I, when I was 6 years old, but whatever the writer says about 6 year old i completely agree with that. Because, my six year old remember to keep notebook for test. she gives the unit test at school and brings notebook back home. I think she needs to grow younger and she is the best example for six year olds which the writer says in the article.
By jenniffer on Nov 15, 2007
When my daughter was 1 year old, she wanted to sleep with me and she wanted to see only those people who she always sees at home, like my husband, my in laws. Once i thought i will take her home, i mean my mother’s place and we will spend some time there. She was very happy in the flight, but when we reached home, she got frightened to see new people and whenever someone picks her up, she started crying loudly. She doesn’t want to go to other people, even though they were sweet and good, she just doesn’t. I think she was not able to recognize my parents as she had seen them only once or twice in pictures. But, those seven days were hell for me. Because she never left me alone.
By kamna on Nov 15, 2007
My four year old, he recalls only those things which interests him. he loves red color, it is his favorite, whenever he goes outside, he never forgets to buy something “red”. I just can’t believe how children get this kind of memory power and why this memory is not permanent. Why we lose it when we grow older? I think only the writer can help us in getting the answer of these questions.
By Abha on Nov 15, 2007
thank you for nice comment friends and my family members.
Great to hear that everyone loved the article
By admin on Nov 15, 2007
I have read so many articles of yours, I have a 2 year old nephew and offcourse he is very sweet. My nephew loves to play with my mobile, watch and other things of mine. Most of the time I lose something or other in home because of him. But, whenever I ask him about where you have kept my things, first he will show some attitude. After i start searching for my things, he comes to me and say here it is take it. why don’t you keep it properly. I tell you his memory is very sharp.
By Rohit on Nov 15, 2007
This was a song I was taught when I was only three or four and we sang it every day until I was a teen.
Vuntz I had a kendy store
Bizniss was so bad
I asked mine vife what to do
and dis is what she said:
Take your self some Kerosene
pour it on de floor
Take a match, give a scratch
No more kendy store! HEY!
By Trudy Steger on Jan 6, 2008
Hi there,
My son is 14 months old, and for around 2 months now (since he turned one) he has been able to recall items around the house after only being prompted once.
For instance, he drew a picture with me a while ago (ie, a few scribbles on an A4 piece of paper) and afterwards we put it on the fridge. I showed him where we had put it, and then we went off to play something else. When my wife came home from work around 4 hours later, I said to him “Freddie, show Mummy your picture” and he immediately ran into the Kitchen and pointed to the Picture on the Fridge.
He knows the names of his favourite toys and can collect any of them on demand. He can also retrieve a toy just by us mimicking the sounds that it makes.
By Gary McAllister on Jan 6, 2008