Mindful Monday: Working Memory (Part 1)
What is working memory, really?
Have you ever felt like your brain is juggling too many balls at once… only to drop them all at the worst possible moment?
You were making breakfast, finding lost shoes, finishing your make-up and packing lunches… only to realize you forgot the water bottles next to the front door after you left the house?
That is your working memory at work. Or, sometimes not working so well.
This week, let’s start exploring what working memory actually is—because understanding it is the first step toward helping our kids, and ourselves, develop stronger skills and use them more effectively.
Your Brain’s “Waiting Room”
Think of working memory as your brain’s waiting room.
It’s the space where information sits for a moment—just long enough for you to do something with it.
Examples:
The two-factor authentication number you repeat under your breath while typing it into your phone.
The instructions you hold in mind long enough to actually follow them.
Remembering the question you just asked so you can listen for the answer.
In more formal terms, working memory is part of our executive functioning system. It’s the short-term, active storage that keeps relevant information right at your mental fingertips.
It Works in Both Directions
Here’s what makes it more than just short-term memory: working memory works in two directions.
It doesn’t just hold new information long enough to use it. It also reaches back into long-term memory and pulls up things you already know—so you can apply them to the situation you’re in right now.
Such as:
Using your knowledge of knitting to learn crochet.
Remembering details of baking a cake when you’re trying your first pie.
Applying spelling rules you learned last month to today’s writing.
Working memory is where old knowledge and new demands meet.
I often describe it as “a waiting room with a revolving door”. Information is coming in and going out a rapid speed to help your day go off without a hitch… when it’s working well.
A Very Busy Place
This waiting room is constantly filling, clearing out, and reorganizing. It’s the command center where your brain decides:
What do I need to keep?
What should I store for the long term?
What can I let go?
What do I already know that will help me right now?
For many kids with executive functioning challenges, this room gets crowded, chaotic, information is coming and going too fast and it’s just plain unreliable.
They can remember things—they just can’t always hold onto all the pieces long enough to use them in order.
They might lose track when asked to switch between steps.
Or struggle to pull the right memory from storage at the right time.
Perhaps they’ve frozen - because they are mentally searching their files for the right piece of information for the demands placed on them.
It’s Extra Work
I promise, it’s not laziness. It’s not defiance.
It’s a brain that’s working extra hard just to keep up with everyday demands.
And remember: even adults have days when our working memory hits capacity.
Ever walked into a room and forgotten why you were there? Or lost track of what you were saying mid-sentence? When the word of or the looks strange and you have to double check you’re spelling them correctly?
Kids experience this too—often with much less practice managing it and not enough tools to get themselves back on track.
What’s Next?
Over the next six weeks, we’ll dig deeper into this fascinating part of the brain.
We’ll talk about what working memory really does, why it matters so much for learning and daily life, and why supporting it is such a powerful way to help kids grow their independence and confidence.
Because once you know how it works?
You can help it work better.
You’re Doing Such Good Work
You’re here, learning about how brains grow, struggle, and adapt.
That alone is powerful.
Let’s keep going, together.
Warmly,
Tara Roehl, MS, CCC-SLP 💛
Working Memory Reminder: Tomorrow kicks off Working Memory Bootcamp
This is a 6-week series for paid subscribers that walks you step-by-step through research-backed, practical activities to build your child’s working memory. Printables, videos, parent-friendly explanations—and a whole lot of encouragement. I’m so excited to share it with you!
Thank you! Your posts are so helpful and encouraging!