Memory

There are different types of memory. Some parents think that their child's memory is good because they can remember things that happened a year or two ago. This means that their long term memory is good. If a child is doing an activity and they get distracted, is this anything to do with memory? If they get distracted and then start a different activity, is this anything to do with memory? If a child does not follow an instruction do you wonder if their hearing is okay or do you question their memory or do you question their understanding?
There is short term memory - the ability to remember things that happened a few minutes ago and there is working memory - the ability to remember from a few seconds ago.
Children often get distracted by noises and movements going on around them. If they then wander off and are unable to return to the task, then memory is likely to be an issue. If they are doing an activity that requires comparison, then they need to remember to compare. If they can't remember then solving a problem by comparing will be difficult. Most activities require an ability to use a working memory, for a child to stay on task. Printing, reading, maths and all school activities require a good short term and working memory.  Of course they will get distracted if working memory is an issue. They may also get distracted for other reasons too.
Visual memory:  
This involves using vision to remember. Many children have a strength in the visual system. Afterall things that can be seen, remain there and don't disappear like auditory information does. Memory games using cards increase visual memory, e.g. Pairs. Another fun memory game is to have a number of items in a container that the child looks at, then the container is placed out of sight and one item is removed. When the container is again placed in front of the child, the object is for the child to remember what was there and is now missing. The number of items can be small and then increased.
Auditory memory:
This is remembering sounds, noises and verbalisations. One interesting game is to take turns in this: "I went shopping and I bought a ......" The next person says the same sentence and adds an item to the other person's item. "I went to shopping and I bought a .... and a ..... . This continues until everyone collapses in fits of laughter because everyone is getting mixed up. This game can be used about a variety of circumstances: beach, an island, made a burger, 
Kinesthetic memory:
This is remembering the doing without thinking about it. Sometimes a child needs to be taught a task over and over with physical prompts and physical guidance until they can automatically do the movements involved.

Memory is affected by many things. Happenings with high emotional content are remembered more easily in the long term. Any child needs to be calm and comfortable to enable the best working memory. Some children need quiet, some need to be away from movements of others.