Keeping toddlers' things in predictable places, and allowing them to store and retrieve those things independently, helps them learn independence and exercises their executive function skills. These are skills that require them to focus attention, use working memory and plan.

Routines, such as packing up toys when play time is over, can help children form memory. By repeating behaviours, children’s knowledge base increases and becomes more organised. Through repetitive routines, children can recall and process the information more thoroughly. Responses are remembered and become more automatic. A young child’s brain is still undergoing major development, especially the part of the brain that can plan ahead and make predictions about future events. A routine helps children practice making these simple predictions and understand concepts such as “before and after”. It also helps them develop self-control and self-regulation as they know they must wait until a certain time to do a particular activity. A regular schedule fosters responsibility and independence as children can perform more activities on their own if they have done the same activities many times before in the same environment.

Contextual cues, involving "where" and "when", are effective in helping young children remember things.

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