Many leading childhood development experts believe that we all have far greater potential in our early years than society gives us credit for. Waiting until school to begin providing consistent intellectual stimulation to a child is no disaster. But in doing so, we miss a unique window of opportunity for learning.
What can I do after birth?
Above all, now that your baby is finally here, you should enjoy interacting with her as much as possible. Talk, read and sing to your baby. Hug, cuddle and kiss her. Spend time playing with her, following her lead once she is old enough to show you what interests her. Enjoy this special time when your child is small - it will pass by all too quickly!
Besides the essentials above, there's plenty more you can do to engage your baby's brain. Auditory and tactile stimulation remain important, as they were in the womb. You can also help your baby develop his motor skills - and learn to read before he starts school!
Auditory Stimulation
*Play music (see above for suitable genres) around the house. You might also consider playing foreign language CDs from time to time. Your baby will absorb the sounds of a second language subconsciously, helping her to accurately hear and pronounce that language when she's older. *Talk and sing to your baby as much as you can. When talking, ask questions and avoid baby talk. *Read a large variety of books to your baby, pointing to every syllable of every word as you read.
Tactile Stimulation
*Regularly massage your baby.
Physical Development
*Your baby's physical and intellectual developments are inseparable. Crawling, for example, can improve your baby's vision, which in turn could affect how easily he learns to read and write. *Encourage mobility by placing your baby on her tummy at regular intervals. When she's older, give her the freedom to crawl and walk around; don't hem her inside a restricted area such as a playpen, or do so as infrequently as possible. *Rock and swing your baby to improve his vestibular (balance) system. Turn your baby upside down - he'll love it!
Diet and Feeding
*Do your best to breastfeed - exclusively for the first six months, and with breast milk as your baby's primary source of nutrition up to the age of one. Breastfeeding moms should eat a healthy diet that includes plenty of fish. *When introducing solids, expose your baby to a variety of foods as early as possible. Include plenty of fresh vegetables and fruit, as well as fish.
Reading and Math
*You can begin flash card reading and math programs as early as four months. With consistent practice, most babies taught in this way can effortlessly recognize words and perform instant math calculations before kindergarten age.
Joyful Learning
*Avoid putting pressure on your child. Learning should always be a joyful experience.
Playtime
*Prioritize play - babies and children can't learn without it. Make sure your child has plenty of toys that stimulate her to explore and be creative. Take time out on a regular basis to play with your child.
The first years of life lay the neurological foundation for intellectual growth into adolescence and adulthood. This time represents a unique window of opportunity for learning. From the moment of conception, the neurons (nerve cells) of the brain multiply faster than any other cells in a baby's body. The rapid pace of brain development continues into early childhood: at birth, the brain weighs 25 percent of its adult weight; by age one, 50 percent; by age two, 75 percent; and by age three, 90 percent.
The brain has approximately 200 billion neurons. A long-held theory that no new neurons can be created in adulthood was recently overturned - although some scientists dispute the new findings. In any case, the prenatal period is when the vast majority of the brain's neurons are created.
Each of the brain's neurons is connected to roughly 5,000 others. In general, the more dendrites (branches between neurons) and synapses (connections between neurons) the brain has, the greater its processing power. More pathways mean information can travel in a number of ways, opening the door to faster and more complex thinking.
This is true in the adult, but not in the infant. Your baby's brain actually has more neurons and synapses than yours - but only because it hasn't passed an important developmental stage, known as pruning, in which the brain deletes unneeded neural connections in the interests of organization and efficiency.
What can I do during pregnancy?
Your baby's sense of hearing finishes developing 20 weeks into pregnancy. So this is the time to begin providing auditory stimulation. At around 28 weeks, you and your partner should be able to feel your baby's movements through Mom's tummy. This is the time to begin tactile stimulation. You can also try visual stimulation starting from around 28 weeks.
Auditory Stimulation
*Use Baby Plus if you can afford it. *Play relaxing music - classical, jazz, chill-out and songs designed for meditation or yoga are all suitable. Avoid hard rock and music with a lot of dissonant chords. *Read, talk and sing to your baby as often as possible (Dad as well as Mom).
Tactile Stimulation
*Massage your baby through Mom's belly. *Respond to your baby's kicks by pressing back gently.
Visual Stimulation
*Try shining a flashlight at your belly, once in a while, to see if it gets a reaction.
Optimize Your Mood
*Mom, try to be as calm and happy as possible. Your mood has a direct effect on the chemicals secreted into your bloodstream. Too much cortisol (the stress hormone) is bad for your baby's developing nervous system. *Plan some fun, relaxing couple time - a gentle hike or trip to the beach; a meal at your favorite restaurant or a hotel stay. If you can, go on a babymoon during the second trimester, when moms tend to have the most energy.
Optimize Your Diet
*Eat a healthy, balanced and varied diet. *Don't take over-the-counter or prescription drugs without your obstetrician's approval. *Don't drink alcohol, or keep it to one small measure of wine or beer on very special occasions. *Don't smoke or take recreational drugs. *Take folic acid (starting from one month before conception) and DHA supplements.
Madeleine Fitzpatrick has sinced written about articles on various topics from Infants And Toddlers, Interview Questions and Infants And Toddlers. Madeleine is the Managing Editor @ Brillbaby.comGot a question or concern? Email the Editor, who is currently her own. Madeleine Fitzpatrick's top article generates over 3600 views. to your Favourites.