How To Stimulate Children’s Brain
Children are the world’s most valuable resource. We love, care for and help them learn and grow. Now, new brain research shows that there are specific things parents can do that will have a permanent and positive effect on a child’s ability to learn.The brain research shows that an infant’s brain at birth has 100 billion nerve cells, or neurons. The neurons grow and connect with other neurons that control various functions such as seeing, hearing and moving. If a child’s brain is not stimulated from birth, the neurons don’t develop or even disappear, impairing a child’s ability to learn and develop.
According to child development experts, here are five specific things parents and caregivers can do to stimulate children and ensure healthy development.
1. Be warm, loving and responsive. Children who receive warm and responsive caregiving, such as touching, rocking, talking and smiling, get along better with other children and perform better in school than children who are less securely attached.
2. Talk, read and sing to your child. Talk and sing about daily events. Read stories in a way that encourages older babies and toddlers to participate by answering questions, pointing to what they see in a book or by repeating rhymes and refrains.
3. Encourage safe exploration and play. Children learn through playing. Blocks, art and pretending all help children develop curiosity, language, problem-solving skills and mathematics.
4. Use discipline as an opportunity to teach. Parents need to set limits that help teach children, rather than punish them. For example, tell your child what behavior is acceptable while maintaining love: “I love you, but I don’t love what you’re doing.” Communicate positively: say “feet belong on the floor please,” instead of “Get off the chair.”
5. Choose quality child care and stay involved. After choosing your provider, stay involved. Drop in unannounced. Ask for progress reports. Look for appropriate curriculum to guide the child’s curiosity, creativity and problem-solving skills.
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