Everyday habits to boost your kid’s brain development

A baby’s brain development is not solely defined by genetics (nature) but also by the environment (nurture). How a kid is nurtured is equally as important as the kid’s genes.

The most rapid brain growth and development occurs in the first 1000 days of life. Experiences can shape the process that determines whether a kid’s brain will provide a strong or weak foundation for all future learning, behavior and health.

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Below are some simple tips of ensuring optimal environment or experience for your kid’s brain development:

1)    Allowing for free or unstructured play

Play is a natural way to learn. Play influences brain development in a holistic way. It is the chief vehicle for the development of imagination and intelligence, language, social skills, and perceptual-motor abilities in infants and young kids.

2)    Story telling or reading

Reading to your kid from infancy stimulates language and cognitive skills, builds motivation, curiosity, and memory. Reading is to the brain what exercise is to the body. A reading or listening brain is actively growing, changing, and making new connections in kids. Reading also makes kids emotionally intelligent. The reading process itself plays an important social function.

3)    Doing simple household chores

Involving the kids with household chores engages them in activities that promote movement-cued development of the brain. This includes big motor tasks such as carrying a pitcher of water or tray of food, organizing the groceries, or sweeping the floor. Other activities such as folding their own clothes and using the clothespin to secure the laundry are examples of fine motor skills which toddlers need before they actually learn how to write. 

4)    Ensuring adequate sleep

• Kids 3 to 5 years of age should sleep 10 to 13 hours per 24 hours (including naps)
• Kids 6 to 12 years of age should sleep 9 to 12 hours per 24 hours
• Teenagers 13 to 18 years of age should sleep 8 to 10 hours per 24 hours.

Adequate sleep duration for age on a regular basis improves attention, behavior, learning, memory, emotional regulation, quality of life, and physical health. Poor sleep habits are associated with an increase in injuries, obesity and depression, especially for teens who may experience increased risk of self-harm. Establishing a bedtime routine is important in ensuring infants and young kids get adequate sleep each night. 

5)    Maintaining regular physical activity

We all know physical activity has many known benefits, and it also appears that regular physical activity benefits the growing brain. Playing a sport and participating in group games foster teamwork, discipline and resilience. Physical activity and fitness can also benefit academic performance.

6)     Be with your kids, and love them

Parents and caregivers play a very important role in promoting positive ways to nurture brain development. Parents should create a safe, consistent environment to ensure that kids know they're physically and emotionally protected. Give your kids hugs and cuddles anytime, and in times when they need it most (e.g. during a tantrum). This way, you create a safe place for them emotionally. Ask for free hugs from your kids when you feel low or happy, and tell them how you feel. 

7)    Eating a balanced and nutritious diet 

Nutrition plays a pivotal role during the development of the brain. Nutrients can impact the brain in many ways, supporting structural brain components, aiding specific brain functions, and providing energy for structure and functions. Ensure you provide a colorful plate daily to guarantee that appropriate and adequate amounts vitamins and minerals sourced naturally from vegetables and fruits are included.  

8)    Visiting your pediatrician regularly;

Healthy body, healthy brain. Make sure you don’t miss your regular schedule of consultations with your pediatrician and ensure shots (vaccination) are given on time. Your kid’s pediatrician has an important role of ensuring that the physical, mental, developmental and behavioral health is on track.

9)    Learning a musical instrument;

Learning to play a musical instrument can enhance verbal memory, spatial reasoning and literacy skills. Playing an instrument makes you use both sides of your brain, which strengthens memory power. 

10)     Cooking a dish or baking a simple pastry;

In preparing a dish, a kid is allowed to apply their knowledge by counting, measuring and following a sequence or direction. It enhances their problem-solving skills and creativity. Following recipes is also another way to strengthen their comprehensive skills and understand the different process like mixing or blending. Cooking is like a science experiment at home. Kid’s learn and practice basic science concepts such as evaporation and melting.

Reference

1)    Csikszentmihalyi. An Exploratory Model of Play. American Anthropologist. 1971
2)    Paruthi S et al. Recommended Amount of Sleep for Pediatric Populations. Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine 2016
3)    Cooking with Preschoolers. https://kidshealth.org/en/parents/cooking-preschool.html
4)    Musical benefits. https://www.learningpotential.gov.au/articles/musical-benefits


 

About The Expert

LOUDELLA V. CALOTES-CASTILLO, Child Neurologist

Dr. Louddie is active in both academe and clinical practice. She believes in work/life integration and is unceasingly learning and re-learning the amazing brain from her four little rascals and her extended children (her patients). 

She completed her Pediatric Residency and Fellowship in Pediatric Neurology at the University of the Philippines - Philippine General Hospital. She took further specialty training in Neuromuscular diseases in children at the Royal Children’s Hospital Melbourne Australia and completed a Summer School of Myology at the  Institut de Myologie, Pitie-Salpetriere, Paris France.

She is currently a Clinical Associate Professor and an attending physician of the Division of Pediatric Neurology, University of the Philippines – Philippine General Hospital. She is also a guest faculty of the Ateneo School of Medicine and Public Health where she teaches both basic and clinical neurosciences. She has served as a Board of Trustee of the Child Neurology Society of the Philippines from 2017-2018.

Dr. Louddie is affiliated with various hospitals such as The Medical City,  St. Luke’s Medical Center - Global City, ManilaMed, and National Children’s Hospital. In MedMom – Institute of Human Development, as their child neurology consultant, she collaborates with other medical specialists and allied health professionals in the care of children with special needs. She has empowered the Muscular Dystrophy Association of the Philippines (MDAP) as they launched the First Muscular Dystrophy Run in the Philippines. 
 

The views and opinions expressed by the writer are his/her own, and does not state or reflect those of Wyeth Nutrition and its principals.