Are you looking for ways to train your memory and store new information more easily? From science, several studies have been conducted and theories formed on how to effectively improve your own memory and that of your children. In this article, we will give you an overview of some of the important results of such studies. Take advantage of them!
Use apps and games to improve memorization
A world without a smartphone is almost impossible to imagine. Smartphones are indispensable for communication, for socializing and because of the countless apps you can use for all sorts of purposes. If you want to learn to remember better, there are excellent applications available for this purpose. A great app to keep your brain fresh and fit is Peak, for example. This app contains more than forty mind games that will help you improve your concentration, learn a language or help you think more logically. Specific online apps with thinking games such as Sudoku, word puzzles, chess and strategy games are also great for giving your memory an extra workout. An absolute must is the app Lumosity. This app to train your brain was developed by forty university-educated researchers, who have developed some twenty games based on scientific research. With Lumosity you can pamper your brain daily with a relaxing and effective work-out.
Learn a foreign language faster in a playful way
Several studies on language development have shown that a relaxed and laid-back environment in childhood gives a big boost to learning another language. If you live in the western or central part of the Netherlands and want to help your child learn English quickly, then participating in an English summer camp is one of the best ways to achieve this. At language summer camps, learning is combined with sports (such as field hockey or soccer), games, singing and dancing. Multiple neurological and psychological studies show that learning a language while doing activities makes memorizing a foreign language a lot easier. Summer camps cleverly capitalize on this by conversing in English during all kinds of playful activities - such as art projects, field hockey, music lessons and a high tea - thus teaching participants the language in a playful and practical way. Several locations are available in the Western and Central Netherlands where
children can participate inexpensively for three or five days in a fun and educational language camp.
Get plenty of exercise
From the same philosophy from which Summercamps work to learn a language, it is advisable to bet on extra exercise if you want to be better at memorization. Getting at least half an hour of moderate to vigorous exercise every day boosts blood circulation and oxygenates the brain. Exercise releases various substances that are fine for your brain and facilitate memorization over time. A recent study conducted by the U.S. National Institute on Ageing found that exercise (such as aerobics, walking, cycling or fitness) improves memory. Breathing and heart rate speed up with exercise, which releases additional proteins known as cathepsin B in the brain. This increases the growth of neurons and connections in the hippocampus. Since the hippocampus plays a crucial role in remembering and thinking, memory improves significantly, according to this (and other) research(s).
Make use of clever mnemonics
Complicated learning is best remembered by making up mnemonics for yourself and your child. For example, you can use abbreviations, key words or pictures to memorize rows. 't Kofschip is a well-known example from the Dutch language for remembering which words to spell with a -t or a -d. But of course there are countless other tricks and memory techniques for storing important things in your memory for the longer term. Make use of these and you will find that remembering complicated stories or lists becomes a lot easier.
Pay close attention to your diet
Taking a critical look at what you do and don't eat can also sharpen your memory. Researchers at Harvard Medical School concluded in 2021, based on extensive neurological research, that saturated fat intake is disastrous if you want to sharpen your memory. This is because saturated fat raises cholesterol levels in your blood, which can damage brain tissue and reduce connections that help with learning. Therefore, be careful with saturated fat!
