Like every parent out there, you may wish for your baby to be a little Einstein. It is true that being really smart holds many advantages in life for your child. However, while some children may be born with the special gene to be a super achiever, many others have average intelligence. Whether or not a child is born with this special gene, you can take advantage of the first few years of your baby’s life, which experts believe is an optimal period for learning. Now it’s just for you to find out how to make your baby smart with the right activities.
How to Make Your Baby Smart
You don’t need to be an Einstein yourself in order to help make your baby smarter. You simply need to be loving and dedicated.
1. Build Your Baby’s Sense of Security
If your baby does not feel safe, he will not learn. His brain is naturally predisposed to seek out safety, according to Tracy Cutchlow, editor of Brain Rules for Baby. Making your baby feel secure can happen through physical contact. This can be achieved through giving baby a massage, wearing him in a harness, talking to him and making skin to skin contact. Babies are more sensitive to emotional environments than you may know. For this reason you should try to manage your level of stress which can be high when you have to adjust to life with a new baby. You should also try not to have fights with your partner in front of baby.
2. Interact with Your Baby
Verbal communication: Talking to your baby is as important as it is to mirror baby’s
facial expressions. Studies show that kids who are talked to often tend to have higher IQ. To achieve a better effect, pay attention to the amount, the variety and complexity of words which you expose your baby to. Another significant thing is to use the tone of “parentese”, namely the special tone you apply when talking to babies, to help your baby separate sounds into different categories.- Nonverbal communication: You can build strong nonverbal skills in your baby by copying and exaggerating her facial expressions and actions. Mimic her actions when she yawns, stretches, smiles or frowns. The skills you nurture here will build the foundation for how well she is able to use non-verbal communication to enjoy strong social interactions with others as she grows older.
3. Explain Things While Pointing Them Out
Pointing to things, talking about them and describing them will help baby to develop cognitive, social and verbal skills. Based on research, babies learn language when you point out something as you say its name. When you begin doing this, the baby will simply look at you. Soon after, he may begin to look at the finger you’re pointing. By about 9 months he will follow your gaze and look in the direction you’re pointing. Between 9 and 10 months, baby will start taking things to show you as he begins to relate to the information around him.
4. Let the Baby Move More Freely
Limit the amount of time that your baby spends in a car seat or stroller, especially when you’re not on the go. It is a common practice to keep baby securely strapped into a confined area so that she stays safe and you can easily take her with you from one room to the next. However, baby needs to be able to move more freely so that she can more fully interact with the sights and sounds around her. This is an important part of developing the ability to concentrate and focus.
5. Read to Your Baby
Start reading to your baby from early on. Some people actually begin by reading to the unborn child. Making this a habit will teach your baby the patterns of turning the page and anticipating what comes next in a story. It will also serve to develop a love for reading.
6. Take Your Baby Out
Take your baby with you when you go out as much as possible. This practice will introduce him to new sets of stimuli to interact with. He’s never too young to go somewhere new. Going out and meeting new people will also help to build his social skills.
7. Keep Encouraging Your Baby
Acknowledge the times that your child does something the right way or how you’ve taught her. Make it a big deal about whatever it is or however insignificant the thing is and showering her with praise. This will encourage her to do things for your approval.
8. Buy Some Stimulating Toys
Both parents and babies love toys. When buying toys, try to choose those that will stimulate baby’s mind and force him to solve problem or get active. Some popular ones include building blocks or a walker. You can also create some of your own such as using other toys to create an obstacle course.
9. Feed Your Baby Properly
Build your baby’s immune system by feeding him in the right way with the right foods. Keep him on breast milk or formula for as long as possible. These contain a rich variety of antibodies and nutrients which are the best for his steady growth and development. When baby begins to eat solid foods introduce healthy and balanced items such as fruits, vegetable and pieces of lean meat. Tempting foods like baby chocolate and French fries are likely to cause negative consequences of hampering babies’ mental or physical developments. And you want to get him used to eating well from early on.
10. Sing and Dance Together
Music is as stimulating and relaxing for baby as it is for older people. Babies tend to even have their own preferences for classical, pop or techno. These preferences are usually based on what they constantly hear in their environment, even while still in the womb. Dance with baby to help build his muscles and coordination skills. It is also a good way to calm him or to put him to sleep. The benefit of this interaction is also quite priceless in stimulating baby’s mind.
Here is a video about an interview discussing how to make your baby smart: