Why do preschool children sometimes forget to follow two requests?

Young children, particularly preschoolers, often struggle with cognitive functions such as memory and attention. Their brains are still developing, particularly in areas responsible for holding multiple pieces of information simultaneously. This cognitive limitation means that when they are given two requests at once, they may not be able to mentally retain and process both instructions effectively.

At this stage of development, working memory is still maturing, and children may only be able to focus on one task or idea at a time. Consequently, when faced with two requests, they often forget or are unable to execute both due to this cognitive overload. This phenomenon is not a result of willful choice or defiance but rather a developmental characteristic of their age group. Additionally, their ability to filter out distractions and prioritize information is also still in progress, further contributing to their tendency to overlook one of the requests.