How to Encourage Brain Development in the First Year?
“How do I encourage healthy brain development in the first year?”
Here are a few tips:
- Be responsive to your baby: when he makes sounds, repeat them to him while looking at him and add a few new words.
- Talk, sing, and read to him
- Let him play: Play is children’s job. Through play children develop their cognitive and emotional skills. And do not be afraid to let him play alone. Unstructured play is really good for children.
- Take him outdoors: more and more we know that spending time in nature is good for children’s development and for us, as well!
- Feed him a healthy diet: once he starts eating solids, encourage him to try new tastes. Give him a varied diet and avoid processed foods.
- Sleep is key for a healthy development. The guidelines state that infants 4-12 months of age, should get between 12-16 hours of sleep per 24 hours (including naps). However, some kids sleep more than others, if your baby seems happy and relaxed during the day, he is probably getting enough sleep.
- Touch him: physical touch (hugs, kisses, cuddles) is a must for our children.
- Keep him active. Do not keep him in swings, strollers, bouncer seats, or slings for too long. Babies need to practice their motor skills and they cannot do it when their movements are restricted.
- Screens: this is always a big worry for parents. The American Academy of Paediatrics (AAP) advises that children should not have any screen time before the age of 2, other than video chatting with family and friends. It is also important to remember that children always learn better and more from a human being than from a screen.
- Last but not least: take care of yourself. Your child needs you to be ok for him to be ok. It is really important that you don’t burn yourself out and remember that the perfect parent does not exist. You don’t need to be perfect.
Having said this, don’t go ‘crazy’ thinking that you need to do too many things to boost your child’s brain. Children will reach their full potential, provided they are well taken care of. The idea that the more you stimulate your child, the better is not correct. Children need enough stimulation for their brain to develop, but there is a threshold. It is wrong to think that if a little bit of stimulation is good, a ton of it must be better. I am saying this to remind you to relax and enjoy your baby!
You may find these articles useful:
Understanding Brain Development in Children
Can You Discipline a 1-Year-Old?
The Importance of Parenting: How Much Do Parents Really Matter?
Also, these masterclasses may come in handy:
Educational Apps for Children: Are They Really Educational?
Sleep Hygiene Tips for Children and Teenagers
I hope this helps. I wish you and your family all the very best.
Love,
Ana
