How Drawing May Support Working Memory
Working memory is the mental "notepad" we use to hold onto a few pieces of information while we work with them — remembering an instruction long enough to follow it, or keeping a plan in mind while carrying it out. Drawing, it turns out, leans on this notepad more than it might seem.
Why Working Memory Matters
Working memory supports following multi-step instructions, doing mental math, and keeping track of a plan while executing it. It's a skill that varies naturally between individuals and tends to develop through childhood, with many everyday tasks offering practice.
A Careful Take on the Claim
When a child plans a drawing — "first I'll draw the sun, then the house, then a tree next to it" — they have to hold that mental plan while executing each step. This is a genuine, if modest, form of working memory use. It's reasonable to say drawing may offer light practice for working memory in this way, but it should not be presented as a targeted or clinically proven method for improving working memory capacity.
How Drawing Exercises This Skill
Multi-step drawings — a scene with several planned elements, or a picture built from a spoken description — ask a child to hold a plan in mind while their hands catch up. Drawing from a description someone else gives, in particular, is a nice stretch for working memory, since the child has to remember several details at once.
A Simple Activity to Try
Describe a simple picture aloud with three or four details — for example, "draw a red house with two windows and a cat on the roof" — and have your child draw it purely from listening, without repeating the instructions back first.
Tips for Parents and Teachers
- Start with two or three details and increase gradually as your child succeeds.
- Avoid repeating instructions immediately — let your child try to recall them first.
- Make it playful rather than a test, with no pressure around "getting it right."
- Praise the attempt to remember, not just an accurate final picture.
Frequently Asked Questions
My child forgets details halfway through. Is that a problem?
Not at all — this is common, especially in younger children, and simply reflects a working memory capacity that's still developing. Reducing the number of details is an easy adjustment.
Can this kind of practice help with school tasks like following multi-step directions?
It's plausible that general practice holding a few details in mind could be mildly helpful, but this shouldn't be treated as a substitute for direct support with following instructions at school.
Is working memory the same as long-term memory?
No, they're different systems. Working memory holds information temporarily while it's being used, while long-term memory stores information over time. Drawing from a description mainly exercises the former.
Conclusion
Drawing from a spoken description gives children a fun way to practice holding a few details in mind, which may offer light support for working memory as one small piece of everyday practice. See also drawing and cognitive development, and try our printable coloring pages for more activities.