activities
10 Ways To Boost Your Baby’s Brain Power
Image: iStock / monkeybusinessimages
From the moment we find out we’re pregnant, pretty much everything we do is for the good of the baby. We change the way we eat, we take the right prenatal vitamins, we exercise and focus on being healthy. For 10 long months, our lives are about keeping them safe. Then they’re born, and our lives change in a million new ways. We painstakingly decide on how to feed them, what to feed them, how and where they’ll sleep. We agonize over what diapers they’ll wear and what soaps and lotions are safe to use on their delicate skin. And everyday, we help their little brains development in myriad ways. That’s one of the most daunting tasks as a parent, right? We’re responsible for helping their brains develop and grow. If you want to boost your baby’s brain power, these daily activities can play a big part.
Baby’s brains are really cool. They’re not really hardwired for anything (besides language), so it’s like a big blank slate! During your baby’s first years, they’ll develop trillions of brain-cell connections, called neural synapses. We can help develop and “wire together” these synapses on a daily basis, with simple activities and experiences. It’s one of the most important jobs we have, but it can also be one of the most fun and rewarding.
One of the easiest ways to boost your baby’s brain power is by talking to them!
Image: iStock / NataliaDeriabina
Babies develop their language and speech skills with your help! When your baby starts to coo and gurgle at you, respond with exaggerated and delighted vocalizations. Draw out your syllables slowly, and speak in a higher pitch than your normal voice. We know it sounds silly, and you make look a little crazy doing it, but every baby talk word is helping your baby develop their language skills.
