Children forget easily? watch out, parents need to be vigilant when it gets worse!

Forgetting is a normal reaction, both in adults and children. However, parents often experience their own anxiety when their baby forgets almost every day. There are several characteristics that indicate the boundaries between normal and abnormal forgetting when children forget easily.

The normal feature of forgetting

Quoted from Health Harvard, some of the characteristics below are normal reactions to forgetting and not to worry too much, namely:

Forgotten events from time to time (transient)

At this stage, children will usually forget about events and incidents that have happened before. In addition, this is also indicated by children who easily forget the information they have learned.

Indeed, human memory is basically divided into two categories, namely information that is often used so that it is impossible to forget and information that needs to be recalled because it does not come to mind often. Scientists say that at this stage, forgetting about things that are not everyday or unusual is still within normal limits.

Forgot because it's unfocused (absent-mindedness)

This type of forgetting occurs when the child doesn't really pay attention or doesn't focus on what was done before. For example, when a child forgets where he put his colored pencil. This could be because the child does not focus when placing the colored pencil, for example because he is thinking about something else.

As a result, when the brain tries to recall where the colored pencils are, the child's storage memory cannot provide the information it needs.

Forgot because of a memory that can't be recalled (blocking)

For example, the child remembers an important message from the teacher this afternoon, but the child forgets what the message is. Temporary inability to recall memories is common in both children and adults. This is still normal, as long as when the child is told again about the teacher's message, such as carrying a ceremonial hat, the child remembers it.

Wrong about detailed information (misattribution)

This process of forgetting occurs when the child actually remembers something that happened accurately. However, when brought up there were some wrong details such as the time, place, and people involved.

In addition, forgetting this one also occurs when a child feels that his thoughts are really experienced when they actually come from his imagination. This is different from lying, because a child completely forgets that what he was talking about did not really happen, but a product of his imagination.

Abnormal characteristics of forgetfulness

Unlike normal forgetting, this type of forgetting is usually more complicated, accompanied by other unusual behaviors, such as:

• Long pause when remembering events or selecting words.
• Repeating the same conversation over and over.
• There are changes in mood and personality.
• Cannot focus on completing the assigned task.
• Doesn't pay attention when other people talk to him so he can't repeat orders or even do them.
• Having difficulty keeping track of assignments at school.

If the child is easy to forget accompanied by these characteristics, then this is a yellow light for you and your partner not to underestimate them.

Cause children forget easily

Here are some common causes for children to forget easily, namely:

• Fatigue and lack of sleep.
• Nutritional deficiencies, especially vitamin B12, which is commonly obtained from dairy products, fish and meat.
• Stress, for example because of too many schoolwork or parents' demands, makes children feel overwhelmed.
• Taking certain drugs that can trigger memory problems, for example metformin (a drug for diabetics) and cholesterol-lowering drugs.
• Certain health problems such as ADHD, brain tumors, and concussions.

These signs of forgetting are common traits that you can look out for. If your baby is easy to forget, try to categorize it, whether it is normal or not. If you fall into the category of abnormal forgetfulness or you are worried about certain symptoms, immediately consult a child psychologist or related experts for further treatment.

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