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How to stimulate children’s intelligence

 

Many parents wonder how to stimulate the intelligence of children to promote both physical and mental development of their children. Well, there are a series of guidelines and activities that are worth taking into account to achieve this goal.

It is important to pay attention to the learning process of the little ones since there are different stages during childhood.

How to stimulate the intelligence of the little ones?

Here are some of the most recommended activities and habits to stimulate children’s intelligence.

Play an instrument

Various studies have shown that playing a musical instrument notably favors the intelligence of children. One of the main benefits of music is that it stimulates the brain, improving memory, as well as the capacity for attention and concentration.

In addition, those children who play a certain instrument require great discipline, thus fostering organizational skills and responsibility.

And finally, it is important to note that music greatly reduces stress , which has a very positive impact on children’s lives. And it is that high levels of stress in many cases lead to excessive eating, as well as the abuse of television or video games.

Learn a language

The fact that children learn a foreign language in early childhood has a wide range of benefits in their education and development.

On the one hand, they learn the language in question in a totally natural and spontaneous way; nothing to do with the learning process it requires in adult life. In this way, your pronunciation and fluency with it will be much better. Some studies have shown that by the time children turn eight they begin to progressively lose the ability to both hear and reproduce new sounds; therefore, learning a language from this age is more difficult.

In addition, learning a foreign language has a very positive influence on the development of children: they have better skills when facing problems , they show greater creativity, their mind is more flexible, they show better memory and, in addition , they are able to do several tasks at the same time in a simple way.

Do sport

Playing sports relatively frequently is one of the activities that most stimulates children’s intelligence. And it is that sport helps them to develop both physically and mentally.

Sport involves movement, so doing any activity significantly reduces the risk of childhood obesity ; In addition, it encourages the physical development of the little ones, being able to correct even possible physical defects.

Beyond the physical benefits, sport is very beneficial both for the mind and for developing children’s social skills: it releases stress, is fun, helps overcome shyness, curbs selfishness, encourages respect and teaches assume responsibilities.

Good rest

In the same way that it happens with adults, the little ones need to rest properly. From the parents’ point of view, it is advisable to establish schedules for going to bed. Also, for them to sleep well, it is best to use the bed only to sleep; no gaming or watching television on it.

The benefits of sleeping well in children are very broad, especially at school age. And it is necessary to bear in mind that while they sleep, their brain and body rest; thus, the next day they are more energetic and active. Thus, children who rest properly show better levels of alertness and reflexes , perform better in school and are also less irritable.

A sleep deficit can lead to a number of disorders that can significantly affect children’s development, such as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder .

Self discipline

Of course, fostering self-discipline is essential to fostering intelligence in children; that is, what allows them to learn what is going to happen to them naturally if they have certain behaviors.

It is important to remember that setting certain limits is not at all at odds with affection . Parents must be firm about the rules that their children must comply with, but imposing them with understanding and love. When setting limits, it is important to explain why; otherwise, the little ones will be unable to understand them and, therefore, to respect them.

At a time when children are overly nervous, it is worth remembering that physical punishment simply relieves tension, but does not educate. Therefore, at that time, it is best to ask them to leave and wait until everything is calmer.

Read

Reading is one of the most beneficial activities that exist for the little ones. In addition to being the most fun, the fact of generating the habit of reading in children significantly improves their intelligence and development.

Books allow little ones to “travel” to other places, thus fostering their imagination and creativity . In addition, they learn to use the language correctly, both from the point of view of grammar and spelling.

You may also be interested in:   Theory of Multiple Intelligences

Do not forget that reading notably exercises the brain since it is a task of certain complexity , thus stimulating certain skills such as memory or understanding.

Some studies support that books help children to put themselves in the place of others, thus developing empathy and flexibility.

Positive education

Positive education is related to self-discipline. It is about setting a series of limits and enforcing them through dialogue, communication and understanding.

  • Help to think: to explain this point, we are going to do it with a simple example. It is very common for children to request trinkets from their parents. Well, at the moment when they consider that there are too many, instead of forbidding them to eat them outright, they can help them to think with phrases such as “why do you think eating so many sweets is bad for you?”
  • Set an example: of course, it is essential to set an example to the little ones so that they take positive habits that help them in their development and growth. There is no use telling them that reading is very good for them if they never see their parents do it.
  • No to personal criticism: faced with a certain negative attitude in the little ones, it is important to criticize this attitude and not them; better “you have not behaved well” than “you are a bad boy”

Awards

Much is said about the awards in the education of the little ones. Well, the truth is that there is nothing wrong with rewarding children’s behavior, as long as it is done properly. In no case should material rewards be used as blackmail so that they do a good deed.

Material rewards may be opportune from time to time to reinforce good behavior. However, avoid becoming a habit as children may get used to obeying simply to get a gift.

Like everything related to the education and development of the little ones, it is best to use common sense. The main objective is that children feel happy and proud of the good behavior they have had, so that in the future they know how to behave simply because it is the right thing to do.

Confidence

From the moment children are born, they gradually build self-confidence. It is a very important value for them since it is essential that they trust in their abilities and capacities to accept new challenges and face new situations. Some studies have indicated that trust is very stimulating for the little ones; Thanks to it, they lose their fear of trying new things, making new friends, being autonomous …

Children acquire the foundations of self-confidence during the first months of life thanks to the close relationship they have with their parents. The role of parents in this process is essential; They must recognize that their children have all the qualities and capacities they need to achieve everything they set out to do in life. For this it is important not to be afraid of everything and, above all, not to convey to children that they are surrounded by dangers and that it is better that they do not try to do anything.

One of the best ways for children to build self-confidence is through praise , always focusing on what the little ones have accomplished; There is no use repeating how handsome they are every minute, but rather it is more effective to point out that the drawing they have made is fabulous.

Of course, criticism is also necessary, as long as it is fair, with a special emphasis on positive education.

Healthy nutrition

And finally, a good diet has a positive influence on the intelligence of the little ones. It is essential that children receive those nutrients that are adapted to their needs and that provide them with a large amount of energy.

Children between the ages of two and three need to consume around 1,200 calories a day. Meanwhile, between the ages of three and five, the recommended daily amount of calories is between 1,200 and 1,800. From the age of six, around 2,000 calories a day.

It is essential that the little ones eat fresh vegetables and fruits , as well as dairy products to strengthen their bones and promote their development. Of course, foods like whole grains and pasta provide essential nutrients like iron, B vitamins, and fiber. And finally, foods like fish and chicken are very healthy for children thanks to their high content of Omega-3.

Conclution

All these activities and guidelines are relatively simple to apply, so it is important to implement them in the family environment to promote the intelligence of children , as well as their correct development both physically and mentally. The most important thing when it comes to instilling in your children how important sports or reading is for their health is to be an example to follow. It is useless to point out to the little ones that doing sports is very beneficial for their health if they don’t see their parents doing it.

 

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Hello Readers, I am Nikki Bella a Psychology student. I have always been concerned about human behavior and the mental processes that lead us to act and think the way we do. My collaboration as an editor in the psychology area of ​​Well Being Pole has allowed me to investigate further and expand my knowledge in the field of mental health; I have also acquired great knowledge about physical health and well-being, two fundamental bases that are directly related and are part of all mental health.

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