Why Processing Speed Toys Help Kids Follow Tasks and Retain Information

This article includes information about how processing speed toys can improve reading skills and task completion. Affiliate links are included for your convenience. Integrated Learning Strategies (ILS) is a learning and academic center. As a reminder, ILS is not a health care provider and none of our materials or services provide a diagnosis or treatment of a specific condition or learning challenge you may see in your child or student. If you seek a diagnosis or treatment for your child or student, please contact a trained professional who can provide an evaluation of the child.

Processing speed is becoming more of a problem in schools for many students. Children who are delayed in processing speed may have trouble with reading and task completion. However, there are processing speed toys and tools you can use at home or in the classroom to improve these skills.

Many kids who struggle with processing speed understand what they need to do, but take longer to complete tasks. They may also appear to have attention trouble because they are easily distracted. Kids with slow processing skills often forget what they have been assigned.

Strengthening these skills at home and in the classroom help kids with reading and comprehension. It can improve their ability to track words across the page and retain the information they read.

The best part about using processing speed toys and games is most kids don’t even realize you are working on their processing speed. The more they play the games, the better their processing speed gets. This translates to their homework, tasks and reading skills.

Slow Processing Development

Kids who struggle with slow processing may become frustrated when getting ready for school and when being asked to complete certain tasks. It’s also not easy for parents and teachers either. Parents and teachers are often discouraged with these children because they seem to be daydreaming or not listening. It may take several reminders to complete one simple task or homework assignment when asked.

A few signs and symptoms that may come with a child that struggles with processing speed includes the following:

• Needs extra time to make decisions
• Is frequently overwhelmed with tasks
• Has trouble starting homework
• Takes a long time to complete homework
• Gets frustrated when rushed
• Underestimates the time they need to complete a task
• Lacks focus with reading and taking notes

Children with slow processing skills are often very smart, but need extra time to finish assignments, tests and homework. Timed tests can be a problem for these types of kids because they prefer to take their time and don’t like to be rushed to finish before a deadline. When this happens, kids can’t keep up and may frequently get information wrong because their brain can’t process fast enough to get through the material.

Reading comprehension is also a problem because the child may read the information so slowly by the time they get to the end of a sentence or chapter, they have completely forgotten what they read.

For more signs of slow processing skills, click here.

Processing Speed Toys

While slow processing can be a problem for many students, there are some fun and playful ways to improve their skills so kids don’t feel overly frustrated. These types of processing speed toys make it feel less like “work” and can motivate kids to play more often. As a result, many of these skills become automatic and are strengthened overtime.

Slow Processing Games and Toys

Here are a few of our favorite processing games and toys that can help kids improve their processing speed. Parents and teachers can adjust the games based on the child’s level and age.

Integrated Learning Strategies is a Utah-based center dedicated to helping mainstream children and children with learning challenges achieve academic success. Our services provide kids with non-traditional tutoring programs within the Davis County, Kaysville, Layton, Syracuse, Farmington, and Centerville areas. Areas to find Integrated Learning Strategies include: Reading tutors in Kaysville, Math tutors in Kaysville, Common Core Tutors in Kaysville, Tutors in Utah, Utah Tutoring Programs