Last Updated on October 26, 2026
Clinically Reviewed by Mohit Yadav, RCI-Registered Clinical Psychologist
Your child can remember every detail of their favourite cartoon, including what happened in an episode they watched weeks ago. But when you ask them to put away their shoes, wash their hands and bring their schoolbag, they complete the first task and forget the rest.
You repeat the instructions. They listen, nod and still lose track.
Why can your child remember something from weeks ago but forget what you said just seconds earlier?
What Are Working Memory Problems in Children?
Working memory is the ability to temporarily hold information in mind and use it while completing a task.
Children use working memory to follow instructions, keep track of what they’re reading and remember steps during calculations.
Unlike long-term memory, which stores information for later recall, working memory holds information temporarily while it’s needed. It also involves using or mentally manipulating that information, not simply remembering it.
Working memory develops throughout childhood, and its capacity varies between children.
Poor working memory describes difficulty holding and using information during activities. It is not a standalone medical diagnosis.
What Are the Signs of Poor Working Memory in Children?
| Sign | What parents may notice |
|---|---|
| Forgetting multi-step instructions | Your child completes the first instruction but forgets the remaining steps. |
| Losing track during activities | They stop midway because they cannot remember what comes next. |
| Difficulty following lengthy explanations | They remember the beginning but lose important details as more information is given. |
| Losing information while reading | They struggle to connect an earlier sentence with what follows. |
| Difficulty with mental calculations | They forget intermediate numbers or steps while solving a problem. |
| Difficulty composing sentences | They lose track of an intended sentence while managing spelling or punctuation. |
These behaviours are not specific to working memory. Attention, tiredness, anxiety or difficulty understanding instructions can produce similar problems.
If the pattern persists, exceeds what’s expected for your child’s developmental level and interferes with learning or daily routines, further assessment may be helpful.
Why Can My Child Remember Old Events but Forget What I Just Said?
Remembering a familiar story and following several new instructions involve different memory processes.
A familiar story can be retrieved from long-term memory. Following instructions requires holding new information temporarily and using it while acting.
But forgetfulness doesn’t always mean weak working memory. Your child may not have heard the instruction clearly, maintained attention or understood what was said.
How Does Poor Working Memory Affect Reading, Writing and Maths?
Reading
Children need to remember information from earlier sentences while understanding what follows.
A child may read individual words correctly but lose track of important details, making the passage difficult to understand.
Reading comprehension problems can also involve vocabulary, language or other learning difficulties.
Writing
Writing requires children to keep an idea in mind while choosing words, spelling and forming sentences.
Your child might begin a sentence knowing what they want to say but forget the intended ending before finishing it.
This can happen even when they can explain the same idea verbally.
Maths
A child may know how to solve a maths problem but forget an intermediate number before reaching the answer.
Allowing them to write down steps reduces how much information they must hold in mind at once.
Does Poor Working Memory Mean My Child Has ADHD?
No. Some children with ADHD have working memory difficulties, but poor working memory is neither required nor sufficient for an ADHD diagnosis.
Learning disorders, language difficulties, anxiety, sleep problems and other factors may also affect performance on tasks requiring working memory.
ADHD is assessed through developmental history, recognised symptoms and their impact on everyday functioning. A working memory test cannot diagnose ADHD by itself.
For related information, read LeapHope’s guides to inattentive ADHD in children and executive function problems in children.
How Are Working Memory Problems Assessed in Children?
A qualified child psychologist, neuropsychologist or other appropriately trained clinician may evaluate working memory when difficulties persist or affect learning.
An assessment may include:
- Developmental and learning history: When the problems began and how they affect schoolwork.
- Parent and teacher observations: Whether the child regularly loses track of instructions or information.
- Working memory tasks: Age-appropriate measures involving verbal, numerical or visual information.
- Related abilities: Attention, language, academic skills and other factors that may explain the difficulties.
For example, a clinician might ask a child to repeat a sequence of numbers in reverse order, requiring them to hold and manipulate information.
A low score on a working memory test doesn’t establish a diagnosis on its own. The clinician must also consider your child’s learning history and everyday functioning.
How Can Parents Help a Child With Poor Working Memory?
| Your child’s difficulty | What you can do |
|---|---|
| Forgets spoken instructions | Give fewer steps at once and use written or picture-based reminders for longer routines. |
| Loses track during homework | Keep instructions visible so your child can check them independently. |
| Forgets steps in maths | Encourage writing down intermediate calculations rather than relying entirely on mental arithmetic. |
| Struggles to follow reading passages | Pause after short sections and ask your child to explain the main point. |
| Loses their intended sentence while writing | Help them note key words or make a brief plan before writing. |
| Struggles with classroom instructions | Discuss written directions, visual prompts or checking understanding with the teacher. |
These strategies support task completion but do not necessarily increase working memory capacity.
Can Memory Games or Brain-Training Apps Help?
Working-memory training may improve performance on practised or similar tasks, but research has found limited evidence that these gains reliably improve school performance or everyday memory.
Be cautious of programmes claiming to permanently increase a child’s memory capacity or treat ADHD through brain-training alone.
When Should Parents Seek Professional Help?
Consider professional advice if your child frequently loses track of instructions, struggles to retain information during activities or has persistent difficulties with reading, writing or maths.
Ask their teacher what they notice and bring specific examples to a paediatrician or appropriately qualified child psychologist. Sudden, progressive or unexplained changes in memory should receive prompt medical evaluation.
LeapHope offers online child and teen counselling for families seeking support with attention, learning-related emotional concerns and daily challenges. A clinician can recommend a specialised psychological or educational assessment when needed.
Clinical Resources
- Child Mind Institute — What Is Working Memory? — Working memory and its role in children’s learning.
- Sheffield Children’s NHS — Memory Difficulties — Memory difficulties and support for children.
- Alloway et al. (2009) — The Cognitive and Behavioral Characteristics of Children With Low Working Memory — Research on working memory and classroom learning.
- Interventions Targeting Working Memory in 4–11 Year Olds Within Their Everyday Contexts (2019) — Systematic review of working-memory interventions.
- Working Memory Training in Typically Developing Children (2020) — Meta-analysis examining training and transfer to other skills.
