How to boost ds's memory?

[CeliaFate]

Ds is spectacularly forgetful. I can ask him to go from the lounge to the kitchen to fetch something and he'll get distracted and forget it.

He has no SEN, he's above average, just easily distracted and forgetful naturally. I think his mind is racing on and he's not concentrating on what we're saying.

He's in year 6 now and I'm concerned that he'll be totally overwhelmed by year 7 if we don't work on ways to remember things.

Any suggestions for tips and tricks? The obvious one is write it down, but are there any others?

What happens if you ask him to repeat back your instruction?

Could you play games like 'I went to market and bought...'?

He can repeat the instruction, he knows what he's supposed to get, but for example he'll go past the fruit bowl on the way, take an apple, remember he hasn't cleaned out his lunch box and go and get that. On his way he may see his football and decide to have a kickabout in the garden, completely forgetting that I've asked him to fetch something.
That's a slight exaggeration of what he does but it gives you an idea.
He can remember things like "I went to market".

Get him to repeat the instruction over and over to himself until it's done? 'Get my PE kit, get my PE kit, get my PE kit...' until it is fetched?

Meditation might be useful to calm down his racing mind.

His brights aren't much use to him if he's all over the place.

If he can learn to focus on one thing, like a candle flame, it might help him in other aspects of his life.
It would be a shame if he's unable to harness his intelligence because of lack of focus.

Have him take a pause before he does anything and focus on what he has to do. Get him to see what he's going to do before he does it, and show him how to slow down by breathing out very slowly.

Mindfulness is very important, and can make a huge difference.

Is there a kids yoga class nearby?