We all know that staying fit and healthy and eating all the right foods during pregnancy will encourage your baby’s brain development and give them a good start in life. It’s an exciting time, and there’s a lot of preparation before your baby arrives. And when they do, they are the amazing little individuals and very smart from day 1.
Did you know that your baby’s brain contains 100 billion neurons at birth? That’s as many as there are stars in the Milky Way! And more amazing is that they will grow trillions of brain-cell connections during their first years, called neural synapses. Your baby is super smart indeed.
Encouraging Brain Development
Having got all this brainpower, the thing to do now and for ‘brain wiring’ is to use it or lose it. Synapses that are not “wired together” via inspiration are pruned and lost during a kid’s school years. It’s believed that a toddler’s brain has twice as many neural connections as an adult’s. So, having all these superpowers, it’s very important to provide activities to continue stimulating the baby’s brain development.
Turn Up The Baby Talk
From the word go, talk to your baby, whatever it’s about, even about what you cooked for dinner last night or what you need from the supermarket. Any happy, exciting talk will do, and likewise, tell them how wonderful they are and how they will enjoy everything in life. And besides, in doing so, you are continually enriching your baby by stimulating his brainpower.
Additionally, all this is important for his future life to enjoy ongoing learning skills by being continually encouraged. In fact, the more you talk and interact with your baby, the more stimulated they’ll become.
Always respond to infant coos with a cheerful voice, and slowly draw out your syllables in a high-pitched voice as you exclaim phrases like, ‘You’re such a sweet baby.’ This way of speaking is called parentese, and the exaggerated facial expressions and drawn-out vowels help your child absorb all the language sounds. Furthermore, the brain areas responsible for understanding speech and producing language need your rich input. Your baby’s brain will absorb whatever you’re telling him all the time.
Top Hints For Stimulating A Baby’s Brain Development
- Use baby talk from birth
- Play games that involve hands and use facial expressions
- Always be attentive and respond promptly when your baby cries
- Create an early passion for books
- Build your baby’s love of his own body
- Choose toys that allow babies to explore and interact
Early Learning Activities
Without question, books are great for your baby. Reading to your baby can begin at birth as everything you say will stimulate their brainpower. Any book with big bright pictures, particularly of shapes and animals, or perhaps a musical book is ideal. Early learning books made of cloth or plastic are very useful too.
Make reading time extra cuddly with your child, and touchy-feely fun books are perfect when doing this. Reading will always stimulate your baby’s brain, especially at bedtime, as your child will feel relaxed and ready for sleep. Build your baby’s love of their own body by tickling their tummy and gently stroking their hair or feet when reading or playing. The baby’s brain will be processing vital information throughout the entire time, which is crucial to brain development.
Bring On The Games
Playing games frequently boost your child’s brain development.
All children love games, even if it’s just waving hands about and playing peek-a-boo by hiding behind your hands. Then seeing your child is an old game that never fails to please. Making silly faces and singing or laughing is great fun too. As infants get older, they’ll love to dance and enjoy music playing, and they’ll be keen to explore any new game with adults or other children.
Everyday Activities That Help Your Little One’s Brain Development
- Breastfeeding or bottle-feeding: Feeding your little one isn’t just great bonding time—it’s also a good opportunity to get his brain working too
- Going for a drive
- Nappy changing
- Bath time, which is always a fun time
- Grocery shopping
- Taking a walk and playing in the park
- Mealtimes
- Bedtime
Ideas For Encouraging Baby Cognitive Development
The stimulating list is endless, but your baby will constantly be learning by reading, singing songs, reciting nursery rhymes, and playing with toys. Teach him how to hold, drop and roll different balls, and play with rattles, bells, and other activity toys that make noises. Also, put toys around your baby to encourage movement.