Brain development in children is a crucial part of their growth and maturity. It involves ensuring that all their five senses get the proper motivation they need to gain better awareness and understanding of their surroundings.
Luckily for new parents, there are early childhood courses and activities that can be done at home. Educational activities for children aged 0-6 years require creativity and resourcefulness. From introducing colors and shapes to teaching kids how to count and read the alphabet, honing their cognition also involves proper guidance and commitment on the parents’ end
For the most part, everything a child observes, hears, smells, and touches are relatively new to them. The vastness of the world around them is what makes kids extremely curious and eager to learn. According to experts, children’s brain development reaches its peak until they turn two years old. From three years, up until they reach the age of five, their cognitive development begins to slow down.
As babies and toddlers continue to absorb the things they experience through their surroundings, parents must maintain stable and consistent communication with them. After all, kids need their parents to help them comprehend their environment better.
Since everything that a child learns first is typically grasped at home, it is best to start simple when introducing educational activities to them.
1. Talk, talk, talk!
The first thing that parents need to concentrate on as they help their kids learn is constant interaction. Responding to your baby or toddler in a calm and affirming manner is crucial in teaching them about interpersonal skills. Babies also take after their parents and mimic the words and sounds that they hear. Talking to your child also helps create a closer bond between you both.
2. Let them use their hands
Enhancing a child’s sense of touch is vital in making them recognize their boundaries. Kids can gain a better understanding of the things around them when they get the opportunity to experience it first-hand. Let your little one grasp their toys and feel different textures. Give your kid an assortment of hard and soft toys and the freedom to hold and explore it.
3. Make it musical
One of the most effective ways to help kids retain information is by singing it to them. Sing nursery rhymes to your kid. Music stimulates their brain, making it easier for them to retain words and cues that they see and hear in children’s songs. At the same time, singing encourages children to try articulating words—an exercise that is instrumental in speech development.
4. Read storybooks and reenact stories together in pretend plays
Most early childhood courses state that stories, picture books, and role-plays enhance a child’s imagination. They also help expand their growing vocabulary. Reenacting the stories that you read together will allow kids to experience different scenarios, communicate their ideas, and even show them how to work around inevitable blunders they may encounter daily.
All in all, the key to helping kids be smarter, more self-aware, and interactive is by knowing how to make simple concepts fun to learn. Don’t hesitate to try new things and experiences with your child. And always reiterate how the constant thirst for more knowledge can be rewarding.
Author Bio: Ellen Hollington is a freelance writer who offers to ghostwrite, copywriting and blogging services. She works closely with B2C and B2B businesses providing digital marketing content that gains social media attention and increases their search engine visibility.