https://www.kitchentableteacher.co.uk/blog daily 0.75 2025-06-09 https://www.kitchentableteacher.co.uk/blog/my-child-doesnt-listen-well-and-forgets-most-of-what-i-ask-them-to-do monthly 0.5 2024-01-23 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62449d1f1fa22d67d28cbb65/49eabdf8-91ba-4cd2-a4d6-1fe14af13767/chocolate+pieces.png Blog - My child doesn’t listen well and forgets most of what I ask them to do. Part 2 - Break the concept into smaller chunks where each piece has a specific item to grasp. Instead of, “How was your day?” try, “Did you enjoy your sandwich today?” Or, “How was P.E. ?” “Did your meeting go well ?”(obviously, this is for your partner or an older child!) This is much easier to process and remember properly in order to answer meaningfully. You are more likely to get answers like this: “No, my sandwich was soggy because my drink leaked onto it.” “P.E. was great because we did gymnastics in the hall and I showed everyone my balancing. “ “Yes, thank you my meeting was really helpful actually. We have made a plan. “ https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62449d1f1fa22d67d28cbb65/a054a00d-6311-438c-89ed-bccc26dd1da4/numicon+5.png Blog - My child doesn’t listen well and forgets most of what I ask them to do. Part 2 - What is in your mind’s eye? The earlier example of the list with the milk and the book could be combined mentally. You could imagine a glass of milk next to a book - together on the table. Or it could be imagined in a silly place, or a favourite place etc. It’s amazing how many things you can remember when joining them together in a mental picture! (Also handy if you do not have a piece of paper and pencil nearby) This can include particular colours for certain things. In the photograph, the Numicon piece representing 5 is always this shape and always red. Children can visualise this really easily and by giving it a particular colour which they always associate with it; they have another tool to help them remember it. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62449d1f1fa22d67d28cbb65/4137f95b-6219-40f9-96a9-ff0d3648be01/collage+lightbulb.jpg Blog - My child doesn’t listen well and forgets most of what I ask them to do. Part 2 - Draw the information This helps think through what information there is and creates a memorable picture. For example, it may be a picture of a tidy sink. The dishes are away – not on the sink, the washing up brush is in its pot and the dish cloth is next to it. The washing-up liquid is in its place. This would be a lot of things to memorise, but if the child has drawn a picture to represent each item and where it is, then it becomes much more easy to process and recall. It is much less overwhelming – therefore it reduces stress and frees up space in the brain to remember it. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62449d1f1fa22d67d28cbb65/9e75ebd9-41f9-4103-ab4e-b328e983d898/multi+feed+electric+transformer.jpg Blog - My child doesn’t listen well and forgets most of what I ask them to do. Part 2 - Rephrase it! There’s more than one way in. It may be that you need to rephrase what you have said, shorten it or check whether there was a word you have used which might be new or easily misunderstood. The giveaway here is the bewildered look, the totally blank look, or the complete lack of any kind of action on the part of the child! Equally, the action could be wrong – because they have misunderstood! This is not a reflection on you or them – simply an acknowledgement that this particular bit of communication needs to be altered in some way in order for it to be successfully interpreted. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62449d1f1fa22d67d28cbb65/a260a9e4-461f-49de-94fe-27b0b195f608/22-10-helen-langdale-POSBL-9+cuppa.jpg Blog - My child doesn’t listen well and forgets most of what I ask them to do. Part 2 - Feel better for longer with Caroline - The Kitchen Table Teacher. If you have read to the end of both parts of this blog, give yourself a pat on the back too. Your commitment is brilliant; you’re brilliant. You’ve got this! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62449d1f1fa22d67d28cbb65/73b9e4b5-4967-46d9-bddf-99e5824a6a62/list.jpg Blog - My child doesn’t listen well and forgets most of what I ask them to do. Part 2 - By making a list we: Transfer our thoughts into another form – so we have processed them in some way – either written, drawn or whatever suits at the time Organise the information Summarise into main points Narrow it down to make it feel manageable Physically act on our thoughts – by writing, drawing, typing on our ‘phone etc We might even prioritise which bits are the most important – a bit more processing https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62449d1f1fa22d67d28cbb65/712e1ce4-5402-4885-84bd-e555e51f50cd/post+it+list.jpg Blog - My child doesn’t listen well and forgets most of what I ask them to do. Part 2 - Make a list - and use it with your child As I said, this could be a very simple list of what to do whilst the bath is running or anything that is just a part of everyday life. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62449d1f1fa22d67d28cbb65/e5dca1bd-b791-4e3c-a6c8-b49b5127e2ca/Screenshot+2024-01-20+192646.png Blog - My child doesn’t listen well and forgets most of what I ask them to do. Part 2 - Make it stand out Here is a summary of the 8 ideas I have shared with you. Why not print it out an put it in a place where EVERYONE in your house can see it? https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62449d1f1fa22d67d28cbb65/4c2c201d-4771-40cf-b6ed-89349d7511cd/target.jpg Blog - My child doesn’t listen well and forgets most of what I ask them to do. Part 2 - What’s your main point? If they are to remember one thing from what you have said, what would you want it to be? Make that main point again. This is good for you too – it helps you consider what is the main thing you are trying to say. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62449d1f1fa22d67d28cbb65/ece5fcec-4e3a-4564-8be9-db65569b454f/ballet+points.jpg Blog - My child doesn’t listen well and forgets most of what I ask them to do. Part 2 - Over and over again In just the same way that we improve at any skill, we do it over and over. We repeat the action many, many times until our “muscle memory” kicks in and our brain pathways make a new connection. Dancers do this, craftspeople do this, chefs do this, builders and mechanics do this. The more we repeat something (correctly) the more it stays with us. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62449d1f1fa22d67d28cbb65/3345da43-325e-467b-ba6a-3c94b761902d/jigsaw+pieces.jpg Blog - My child doesn’t listen well and forgets most of what I ask them to do. Part 2 - Connect to what they already know By putting your words into a familiar context, you boost the chance of your child joining in with you, the chance of them understanding what you are talking about, and-again- the chance of them remembering it. (If you can act quickly too, whatever that looks like, all the better) Also, you give your conversation more purpose. Your child can see why and how it fits in to their bigger picture. Again, you boost their engagement and their chance of remembering. https://www.kitchentableteacher.co.uk/blog/my-child-doesnt-listen-and-forgets-most-of-what-i-ask-them-to-do monthly 0.5 2024-01-23 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62449d1f1fa22d67d28cbb65/c35901f9-1c53-45bf-b4df-5bfc79348e09/screen_2x.jpg Blog - My child doesn’t listen well and forgets most of what I ask them to do. Part 1 All of this happens in tiny fragments of time, and before we know it, we have a child who is either confused or inaccurate. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62449d1f1fa22d67d28cbb65/403e41c8-2e21-4dea-9524-7ba015834de8/34+12-3.png Blog - My child doesn’t listen well and forgets most of what I ask them to do. Part 1 - How MUCH information is being heard How that information is being shared (here we are specifically thinking about our sense of hearing so things like tone of voice, register of voice, and how loud or soft that voice is. Is the speaking voice very monotone or difficult to listen to? Or is it lively and varied?} If the information is linked to anything – prior knowledge, experiences, memories, actions All of the previous factors mentioned regarding concentration All of the previous factors regarding the physical process of hearing and accuracy . https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62449d1f1fa22d67d28cbb65/118822b8-1471-4592-b3e7-2e8ca469fcfa/05-02-2015_28.jpg Blog - My child doesn’t listen well and forgets most of what I ask them to do. Part 1 - Direction You might remember from school that sound waves travel forward. If you and your child are facing in different directions, their ears will not “catch” the sound so well. It is easy to forget how much we rely on our eyes when listening – we lipread as part of the process. It is only when that option is unavailable though, using the telephone, sight difficulties or medical masks that we realise how much more we have to really concentrate on the actual sounds. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62449d1f1fa22d67d28cbb65/1705693835916-VXM6Z3VLTZCTK3ZB5PZ9/image-asset.jpeg Blog - My child doesn’t listen well and forgets most of what I ask them to do. Part 1 - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62449d1f1fa22d67d28cbb65/e4015bd4-6de0-441a-b816-7a1ccebf1225/image.png Blog - My child doesn’t listen well and forgets most of what I ask them to do. Part 1 - Is your child concentrating on something else? They could be: · Watching television or a screen · Playing a game/activity – physically or on a screen · Making something which is involving all their attention · Listening to something (and obviously, if headphones are involved, you have the physical barrier too) https://www.kitchentableteacher.co.uk/blog/what-is-an-array-and-what-is-it-for monthly 0.5 2024-01-23 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62449d1f1fa22d67d28cbb65/94cc19be-74ba-4edd-9291-179f3ed82c5d/3x2%5B1%5D.png Blog - What is an array and what is it for? - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62449d1f1fa22d67d28cbb65/0fd09f8b-84ab-4c2c-bf22-33f9c625a557/5x4%5B1%5D.png Blog - What is an array and what is it for? - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62449d1f1fa22d67d28cbb65/6a40eda3-c6fa-4f1c-a1cf-88ca52e80be3/2x3%5B1%5D.png Blog - What is an array and what is it for? - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62449d1f1fa22d67d28cbb65/afdb4e74-9023-471b-a297-24594793a159/4x5%5B1%5D.png Blog - What is an array and what is it for? - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://www.kitchentableteacher.co.uk/blog/what-is-a-fact-family monthly 0.5 2024-01-23 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62449d1f1fa22d67d28cbb65/aad8ecbf-7eef-4346-b1ac-94214ecc2ab1/3%2B4%3D7.png Blog - What is a fact family? - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. 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