Memory Development In Infants

During earlier times there was a conflict of belief between parents and researchers about memory status and skills to learn in children. Though parents always thought that the child learns and remembers at all ages, but researchers were of the opinion that the child has no memory skill up to the time the child is of eight or nine months.

Subsequent research has established that the baby has memory and can retain a thing in memory for a day at the age of six weeks and up to a period of four months when at the age of eighteen months. Study has also revealed that the child has memory even when at the stage of foetus. A child can remember an impulse from ten minutes to twenty four hours at different stages of development as a foetus.

To make the child learn something a daily routine should be followed. It is essential to teach the child repeatedly at short intervals, rather than repeating a thing after long intervals. Repeating a particular thing and telling the child again and again as to how to play with a particular toy will enable him to learn and he will try to repeat whatever he is told. Toilet training is the most common example how mothers try to train the child.

Context or surroundings play an important role in making the child learn and develop memory skill. If child goes out visiting someone, he will feel immense happiness when back home and in his room, as the children remember their home, parents and toys. The memory of a child can keep a thing repeated often. If mother sings a song for the child repeatedly, the child feels happy hearing it and will laugh or give out certain other expression, but if the same mother changes the song, the child, though enjoying the voice of the mother, will feel astonished and give unfamiliar expression at the new song. Similar is the case with change of toy or outfit.

For long term memory development of the child, proper nourishment and balanced food is a must. In addition to food proper exercise is needed to regulate blood circulation. Though proper food is needed throughout the life but it is very essential during first eighteen months of age. If during early stage of development the child becomes deficient in some essential nutrients, it will be difficult to recoup throughout life. So it is essential to give desired supplements at proper intervals to the child, starting from the age recommended by the doctors.

If at the time of first check it is found that your child suffers from Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder it should be cause of concern and proper remedial action should be taken immediately in consultation with the experts and proper nutrition provided to the child.