Author’s bio: Created by Peter Emmanuel Rossi – a professional hot tub designer, expert, and founder of ByRossi.
There are a lot of opinions on how to boost your child’s memory skills. Some believe repetitive exercises are the key, while others think new and innovative methods work better. So, what’s the truth? Let’s examine the pros and cons of repetitive learning exercises for your child!
What Is Repetitive Learning?
Repetitive learning is a method of teaching where the same information is presented to the learner multiple times. The best way to do this is by using different activities like the following:
- Drilling games
- Flashcards
- Rote memorization
- Worksheets
- Repeating something out loud multiple times
The goal of repetitive learning is to help the learner commit information to memory so that they can recall it later when needed.
Pros of Repetitive Learning
If you are considering using repetitive learning with your child, it is important to weigh the pros and cons to decide if this method is suitable for them. Below, check out all its advantages.
Repetitive Learning Helps to Improve the Brain’s Capacity
One of the benefits of repetitive exercises is that it helps to improve the brain’s capacity. When your child repeats an exercise, they are essentially giving their brain a workout and helping to increase its processing power. Here are a few other ways repetitive exercises help brain capacity:
- They help to cement the connections between neurons in the brain.
- They help to improve the brain’s ability to store and retrieve information.
- They help to improve attention span and focus.
- They improve working memory.
In other words, repetitive exercises can help boost your child’s memory skills.
Repetitive Exercises Help with Learning Basic Information
While repetition isn’t ideal for some types of learning, it’s a great way to learn or memorize basic information. Primary, factual information such as the alphabet, numbers, days of the week, and simple phrases can all be learned through repetition.
Repetitive Learning Builds a Good Foundation for Studying
Repetition is the key to learning. It helps embed the information in your brain so you can recall it later. That’s why studying for a test by doing repetitive exercises is so effective. It’s also why children who are read to or who listen to audiobooks often have better reading comprehension skills than those who don’t.
- Repeating information helps with long-term retention. If you want your child to remember something for years to come, having them repeat it several times will help them keep it stored in their memory for an extended time. Additionally, children feel more confident and motivated when they can easily retrieve information from their memory.
Repetitive Learning Helps in Everyday Life
While it might not seem like it, repetitive learning helps in everyday life. For example, when you drive to work, you probably take the same route daily. It is because your brain has learned the route and can easily navigate it without overthinking. The same goes for things like tying your shoes or making your bed in the morning—these are things you have learned through repetition and can now do automatically.
The same principle applies to memory skills. By repeating information frequently, you can help your child’s brain store that information in their long-term memory so they can easily recall it later.
Cons of Repetitive Learning for Child’s Memory Skills
While repetitive exercises may help your child to remember specific information, it is essential to note that they can also have some adverse effects:
- If your child is only exposed to the same material repeatedly, they may become bored and disengaged with learning.
- Repetitive learning can lead to a “robotic” approach to problem-solving, as children may simply regurgitate the same solution without really understanding the concept.
- Repetitive exercises can cause your child’s memory skills to decline if not done correctly.
Here are a few more cons of repetitive learning to be aware of.
Repetitive Learning Can Result in Misunderstanding the Material
Repetitive learning is an excellent way to remember some information. However, it can be counterproductive when it comes to more complex concepts. When your child is trying to learn something new and complicated, they need to understand the concept before they can start memorizing it. If you force them to memorize it before they understand it, they will likely get frustrated and give up. And worse yet, they could end up memorizing the wrong thing entirely.
Besides, there is such a thing as too much repetition. If your child does the same exercise repeatedly, they may become bored and lose interest in the material. It can lead them to forget what they have learned and struggle when encountering new material.
It’s important to balance exposure and variety to keep your child engaged and help them build strong memory skills.
Repetitive Learning May Lead to Forgetting Past Knowledge
One of the most significant drawbacks to repetitive learning is the resulting weak connection between old and new information. In other words, a child may forget the material they have already learned when repeating new information. So the situation “memorized, passed, forgot” appears.
However, some researchers believe that forgetting can help you learn. When you forget something, your brain must work harder to retrieve the information, leading to improved understanding and long-term retention.
Repetitive Learning Excludes Social Skills
Repetitive learning can be boring for your child. If they do the same exercises repeatedly, they might not be motivated to continue. This type of learning excludes social skills. Your child won’t interact with others, which can impact social development.
It is essential to find a balance between repetitive and varied learning activities. While repetition can help your child develop critical memory skills, they should also participate in other activities to encourage social development. Try to create a schedule that includes both types of activities so that your child can benefit from both approaches.
Tips for Parents Who Want to Use Repetitive Learning for Their Child’s Memory Skills
Repetitive exercises are a great way to build a solid foundation for your child’s future studies. By doing them, your child will learn how to focus and pay attention for longer periods. In addition, repetitive exercises can help children memorize information more effectively.
If you decide to use repetitive learning, you can do a few things to make it more enjoyable for your child.
- Vary the activities that you use to present the information. Variation will help keep your child engaged and interested in their learning.
- Focus on quality over quantity. It is better to review a small amount of material multiple times than try to cover too much ground and risk overwhelming your child.
- Provide praise and encouragement as your child masters new material. It will help them feel motivated and proud of their achievements.
Summary
As a parent, you want what’s best for your child. When it comes to their education and future success, you may go above and beyond to ensure they have every opportunity to excel. One way to help them succeed in their studies is by using repetitive exercises as a way to boost your child’s memory skills. Now that you know the pros and cons of using repetitive learning techniques with your child, you can decide what will work best for them. After all, you know your child best. Try out different methods and see what works for them—there is no one-size-fits-all solution to memory and learning! (And don’t forget to circle back to the Troomi blog for more parenting tips and tricks!)