Reduced processing speed in children and young people can impact their ability to quickly absorb, process, and respond to information. An individual's processing speed in the visual channel can be different from the speed with which they process verbal information.
While it may not be possible to increase processing speed directly, there are several strategies that parents can implement at home to help reduce the impact.
By making adjustments to the way tasks and learning activities are approached, parents can create a supportive environment that accommodates the child's needs, without them feeling overwhelmed or pressured.
Understanding Processing Speed Issues
Understanding processing speed issues involves recognising that children with slower processing speeds may take longer to complete tasks and process information. Here are a few things to consider when learning that a child has slow processing speed.
Tips
It Just Takes a Bit Longer
Consider how your child processes better. If they work well with pictures and patterns, but seem to struggle with a lot of verbal information, they probably process visual information better. Equally, if they seem to cope better with words and verbal instructions than diagrams and pictures, they are probably more confident in the verbal channel. This knowledge can help you find strategies to support their unique, individual profile.
Allow Extra Time
Be generous with time allowances for tasks. This reduces pressure on your child and gives them the space to process information at their own pace. This may mean adjusting your routines. The times when your child is most likely to struggle with being required to process too quickly are those times when you are in a rush, e.g. to get out of the door to get somewhere on time. Identify these times as a family, and allow extra time, remembering not to speak too quickly and hurry them up if you are running late!
Be Patient and Encouraging
Avoid expressing frustration if tasks take longer than expected. Instead, offer encouragement and praise for their effort and progress.
Involve the Whole Family
Make sure everyone in the family understands the child's needs regarding processing speed.
Home Learning Adjustments
There are a few things you can do in the home to help make adjustments for children who struggle with processing speed:
Tips
Set Realistic Expectations
Discuss with the child the need for extra time and realistic outcomes. This ensures they understand that taking longer to complete tasks is okay and helps them avoid unnecessary stress.
Create a Relaxed Environment
Encourage a calm and patient approach to learning at home. Avoid pressuring the child to complete tasks quickly, and instead, focus on steady progress. It's a delicate balance with slower processing, to make sure the child is making progress and not being burnt out.
Communicate with Teachers
Regularly communicate with the child's teachers to align home learning with classroom accommodations. This consistency will help the child feel supported both at school and at home.
Chunking: Breaking Down Tasks
Chunking is a strategy where large tasks or pieces of information are broken down into smaller, more manageable parts. This approach helps children with slower processing speeds by reducing the cognitive load and making it easier for them to focus on one thing at a time. At home, chunking might be a strategy to use when doing homework.
An example
Let’s see how to use chunking in action, with a parent guiding the process.
Charlotte has an English task where she needs to review a text and write a summary. To help, her parent uses chunking and a visual checklist. Together, they break the task into smaller sections.
First, the parent helps Charlotte focus on reading the introduction and summarising it. Once that’s done, they tick off the introduction on the checklist. Next, they move on to the first half of the main body, summarise it, and tick it off as well. After a short break, they repeat the process with the second half and then the conclusion.
The checklist helps visually track progress, keeping Charlotte motivated while reducing the cognitive load by focusing on one chunk at a time.
Use Task Plans
A task plan is simply a written list or series of pictures of a task broken down. These can reduce the load for your child, if used to plan tasks at home. An example of a task plan is here.
Using Chunking for Homework Help Process
Step 1
Break the task into smaller parts. Identify manageable sections to focus on one at a time.
Step 2
Use a visual aid, like a checklist or chart, to track progress. This helps keep everything organised and gives a sense of accomplishment.
Step 3
Complete the first part, then take a short break to rest and reset before moving to the next chunk.
Step 4
Repeat the process for each section until the entire task is completed, marking off each step along the way.