We all want our children to be little geniuses, don’t we? On the other hand, finding that potential in our children is the key to assisting them in developing it. This article will teach you how to raise a super smart baby.
Like most parents, you are always concerned about your child’s growth. Are they gaining enough knowledge? Do they have the same linguistic skills as their friends? Isn’t it too soon or too late to be reaching these milestones?
It is natural to want your precious child to be the best and brightest, and you may struggle to compare your child to his peers. But how do you know if your child is on the right track? And what can you do to help them reach their full potential?
Signs of an Intelligent Baby
Every parent enjoys learning that their child is exceptionally bright and realise that they are raising a super smart baby. But you might not notice that there are certain signs of an intelligent baby – particularly so – that you can nurture so that your child reaches their full genius baby potential!
The trick is to recognise these early indicators of a smart baby, so you can bring them out and watch your baby shine.
1. Hits milestones earlier than other babies their age
You may be aware that baby developmental milestones are an important indicator of whether your child’s physical, cognitive, and emotional development is on track.
However, if your baby is reaching these milestones much sooner than their peers, this could be one of the signs of a super smart baby. For example, your three-month-old is already sitting on his or her own. Or your 10-month-old speaks in complete sentences.
2. Has an excellent focus
If you want to know more about how to raise a super smart baby, you need to understand their focus. Babies and young children have notoriously short attention spans — give or take 15 minutes, and they’re off on another adventure.
However, one of the signs of an intelligent child is the ability to focus on a task for extended periods at a young age, usually before six months.
For example, you may notice your highly intelligent five-month-old concentrating intently on playing with wooden blocks without becoming distracted. Or she may sit with you while you read a book, pointing out her favourite images or turning the page.
3. Likes solving problems
If your child shows signs of being an intelligent baby and you want to know how to raise a super smart baby, don’t expect them to give up easily! That’s right — in addition to extreme focus, such babies have exceptional problem-solving abilities.
If you keep their favourite snacks in a cupboard, your child will likely devise a clever way of obtaining these treats. Stacking the queue box on a toy truck!
And while all children demonstrate problem-solving skills by developmental milestones, an exceptionally advanced child will demonstrate these skills much earlier than their peers.
Mom playing with baby | Image Source: iStock
4. Enjoys (even prefers) solitude
We all know that children are fun-loving little beings who rarely want to be left alone. However, one of the signs of an intelligent baby is that he or she prefers to be alone.
You’ll notice them having a great time playing on their own. Or, for slightly more advanced emotional and intellectual stimulation, they may prefer the company of older children rather than that of their peers. Hello there, tiny genius!
5. Extremely curious
Have you noticed your baby looking at you very keenly, like she’s inspecting something on your face? Yes, children can be inquisitive little creatures. However, one of the signs of a brilliant baby is that they are naturally very curious.
Smaller babies may use their eyes to investigate faces and sounds, while toddlers can grab interesting objects and become engrossed in various activities.
6. High birth weight
It may sound strange, but studies show a link between a child’s birth weight and intelligence.
Researchers discovered that having a higher birth weight correlates with having a slightly higher IQ throughout life. The complete Paediatrics study can be found here. Meanwhile, continue to nourish your baby’s brain with milk and then with brain foods such as avocado and fish once they begin solids.
7. Alertness
High alertness is one of the first signs of an intelligent baby. These babies are also acutely aware of their surroundings and loved ones, immediately recognising and bonding with family members. They will make direct eye contact and reward you with a smile or other signs of recognition, such as cooing or waving their fists.
How to Help With Baby’s Development
The first few years of a baby’s life are critical for development. Knowing how to help them develop at the fastest rate is important.
Here are some ways you can help with your baby’s development:
- Learn to read their cues and respond appropriately.
- Be consistent with your expectations and discipline methods
- Try to give them opportunities to explore their surroundings.
How to Raise a Super Smart Baby
So, parents are keen on how to raise a super smart baby. Keep in mind that parental influence can be very powerful. Consider this when trying to encourage your child’s development: researchers who studied Einstein and other high achievers believe that certain parenting behaviours may lead to more successful adults.
The authors of The Formula: Unlocking the Secrets to Raising Highly Successful Children, Harvard University’s Ronald F. Ferguson, PhD, and Tatsha Robertson, discovered the following influential parenting behaviours:
- encouraging a child’s independence while intervening as needed
- introducing a child to new ideas and possibilities (and teaching your little one to be persistent in finding solutions to problems)
- making very deliberate parenting decisions based on your child’s specific needs
You don’t need any special training or equipment to do this. Your baby only needs you and the environment around them to learn! Consider the following as you consider how to give your child the best possible start:
1. Take good care of yourself while pregnant
First, remember that your baby’s brain development begins while they are still in the womb. Proper nutrition and avoiding unhealthy habits such as smoking and drug or alcohol use can help your child reach their full potential.
Regular prenatal care can help prevent complications and premature or preterm deliveries, impacting a baby’s brain.
2. Address your baby’s needs
You’ve probably heard of psychologist Abraham Maslow’s hierarchy of needs. Food, water, and shelter are at the bottom of his pyramid. Self-actualisation is at the top of the pyramid.
According to the pyramid, lower-level needs must be met to achieve one’s highest potential and purpose.
This is also true for your child. They must be fed, kept clean, and kept warm to develop correctly. They cannot reach their full potential unless their basic needs are met, so time spent feeding or cuddling them in preparation for sleep is well spent.
3. Play together
Playing with child to develop gross motor skills
Taking time to play with your child can help you form a bond that will be the foundation for future relationships. Playing allows for the development of important social-emotional, communication, and cognitive skills. Even with the smallest newborns, it’s critical not to overlook this special time.
4. Encourage good sleep
Sleep is essential for consolidating memories, integrating our experiences, and gaining more knowledge at all ages. Children need sleep as their brains continue to grow and process information.
5. Read together
You may want to read aloud to your baby before they are born, believe it or not. While this will not affect their development, it will establish a pattern of reading together that will be beneficial once they are out of the womb and in your arms.
Books provide opportunities for language learning, bonding with caregivers, and exposure to things that a child may not be able to see physically.
Remember that the interaction between you and your child is a big part of what makes books educational. Consider combining books with cuddles, songs, and silliness for some excellent brain development.
6. Talk to your child
Language is important! The number of words you expose your child to influences their vocabulary. Research has shown that frequent communication with your child can improve nonverbal abilities such as reasoning and number understanding.
His overall development will likely improve if you regularly actively engage in positive conversations with your child. Conversations can result in improved behaviour, reduced anxiety, and increased self-confidence.
Don’t forget to sing together and use music as another form of communication. This is also associated with brain development.
7. Provide developmentally appropriate toys
Toys can assist your child in learning new skills. You can provide a reasonable challenge to your child by selecting developmentally appropriate toys.
Learning new ways to play with their toys can boost their self-esteem, spatial awareness, and cognitive development. There is no need for many toys if the available ones promote learning and growth.
Many different types of toys can be used to encourage the development of a baby’s intelligence. These include rattles with different textures and sounds, blocks, etc. In addition to these traditional toys for babies, there are also educational toys that can help your child learn letters, numbers and shapes and assist them in developing their fine motor skills.
Little boy having fun and playing wooden toy drum
8. Avoid screen time
Several studies have found that screen time in young children harms brain development.
As a result, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommended in 2016 that children under 18 months limit their screen time to video chatting only. The AAP recommends that only high-quality programming be shown after 18 months.
It is recommended that children aged 2 to 5 limit their screen time to no more than one hour per day of this high-quality programming (shown with an adult present to provide real-world connections and help your child understand what they are seeing.)
9. Stay active
Being physically active is beneficial to both mental and physical health. Endorphins are released during physical activity, which can aid in managing feelings of depression and anxiety. It can also increase self-confidence, self-esteem, and cognitive skills.
10. Focus on exploration over memorisation
While it’s exciting to see a toddler recite state capitals or multiplication facts, don’t mistake memorisation for intelligence.
Your child needs to spend a lot of time working on their gross and fine motor skills, especially in the early months and years. Developing these skills necessitates the ability to explore, touch, and move.
Many words and facts can be learned in real-world contexts even as your child grows older. Providing this context can aid in information retention.
11. Manage your expectations
Keep in mind that growth takes time. Don’t forget to set realistic expectations based on commonly expected milestones and to celebrate even minor achievements along the way.
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Every day, your child learns and grows. That means you have to be on your toes at all times! One of the best things you can do to help them progress is to focus on things they are interested in.
You will be able to tailor your child’s activities as you learn more about his or her strengths and weaknesses. You don’t need a lot of fancy gadgets, just your undivided time and common household items.
Although it’s easy to become competitive with other parents and their children, each baby develops in a unique way and at their own pace. Remember to appreciate your one-of-a-kind baby for all their gifts and focus on developing their talents to their fullest potential.
You can consult your child’s paediatrician if you are concerned about their development. They will be able to advise you on what is considered normal development and refer you to different specialists if necessary.
12. Provide nutritious options
It is important for your baby’s brain development to receive adequate nutrition. You want to ensure they’re getting a rainbow of colours and a variety of food groups on their plates when they transition to solid foods.
Meanwhile, most of those nutrients will be obtained from milk, especially during their early years. You’ll want to ensure your child drinks frequently and gets enough fluids.
Aptamil Gold+ Growing Up Milk
Updates by Pheona Ilagan
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