Processing speed is the speed in which someone can complete a mental task. Some children struggle with receiving and understanding all the new information they are taking in. In some cases, it is due to a slow processing speed. While this is a cognitive skill, there are activities to that specifically target processing speed and can help your child improve on it.
1) Brainjogging
Brainjogging is a multi-sensory online tool we use in order for our students to tone and prep their brain before a lesson. Three out of the four exercises in Brainjogging are called eye movements. Eye movements help improve on visual tracking and processing speed. With consistency and a hard effort, you will be amazed with the progress your child makes over time.
2) Timed Categories
A simple way to work on processing speed is through categorization. If you are familiar with the game "Categories", you know that you choose a topic (ex: animals, names, cities, etc.) and then the other person names as many items under the chosen category until they can't think of anymore. To add the element of speed to this activity, you can start a timer for 1 minute. For example, if Charles named 10 animals in 1 minute, I would set a future goal of naming 15 animals in 1 minute. Often times, students feel "on the spot" during this activity, however, it is great exercise to build on retrieval fluency AND processing speed.
3) Spot It!
Spot It is a popular card game that is easy to learn and quick-paced! Each child receives one card with several different images on it (ex: a heart, a tree, a lightning bolt, etc.) Have your child study their card and make sure they are able to recognize each image. Then, flip over a new card and as quickly as they can, the child tries to find the matching image (ex: both cards have a heart on it). Whoever "spots it" first, wins the card. This simple game works on visual processing and processing speed.
Written by Madison Dwyer