Role of Parents and Foods in Boosting Brain Power in Babies

Introduction

A baby's brain starts developing rapidly from birth to the age of three years. During childbirth, the baby's brain consists of approximately a hundred billion neurons forming brain cell connections known as neural synapses. The development and behavior of a child depend upon brain development. A child's behavior, thinking, and learning skill depends upon the brain's development. Parents play a significant role in the growth and development of a child's brain. Parents' love, care, proper nutrition, and physical activities boost babies' brain power.

How Can Parents Stimulate Their Baby's Brain?

When children are growing, they have the potential to learn. Parents can help stimulate babies' brains to improve their creativity and analytical thinking. Nurturing the child's brain helps lay the foundation of imagination, recognition of various colors, and awareness. In addition, it helps in cognitive development.

Following are the different ways parents can stimulate their baby's brain.

• Parents should interact with their children daily so that they can recognize their voices and facial expressions.

• Parents should try to play with babies' hands, such as bubble blowing, finger painting, and scribbling.

• Parents should help build language skills and make their children active listeners.

• Parents should always answer their child's questions to fulfill their curiosity.

• Parents should always create a learning environment.

• Parents should always respond clearly and appropriately to a child's actions and words.

• Parents should be cautious about their child's feelings and emotions.

What Are the Foods Essential for Boosting a Baby's Brain?

Nutrition plays a significant role in boosting brain growth in a child. Therefore, parents should know the foods that help the child's brain growth. A diet enriched with vitamins, minerals, proteins, and fats helps maintain brain cells and improve neuronal growth.

Following are the foods that help develop a child's brain.

1. Eggs: Eggs contain choline, vitamin B12, protein, and selenium. They help in the cognitive development of a child's brain, and choline improves neuronal function.

2. Fish: Fishes like salmon, tuna, and mackerel should be incorporated into children's diets. Fishes contain omega-three fatty acids. Omega three fatty acids help in building blocks of brain cells. It helps in improving the growth and functioning of the brain.

3. Oats: Oatmeal helps improve a child's brain's memory, attention, and functioning. They are highly rich in vitamin E, fiber, and iron. Oats are a good source of energy that helps children grow cognitively.

4. Vegetables: Vegetables are essential to a balanced diet in a child's meals. Vegetables contain the necessary nutrients vital for babies' brain growth. Brain-protecting compounds such as antioxidants, folate, carotenoids, flavonoids, vitamin E, and vitamin K are present in vegetables. Carotenoids such as lutein in green leafy vegetables boost the brain's cognitive functions. Carrots are rich in carotene. Vegetables provide antioxidants in a child's nutrition. Antioxidants play a vital role in keeping brain cells healthy. Tomatoes and sweet potatoes are rich in antioxidants. Green vegetables, rich in folate, help improve the child's memory. Kale spinach and chard consist of a high amount of folate. Sulforaphane and diindolylmethane present in Kale help in the growth of neurons.

5. Whole Grains: Whole grains provide a constant supply of energy. Grains have a low glycemic index and release glucose in the blood. It helps keep one alert and conscious. Grains also contain folate, which is essential for the brain's functioning.

6. Nuts: Nuts contain a high concentration of vitamin E, which helps prevent cognitive degeneration. In addition, nuts have zinc constituents, which help improve memory. Parents should give nuts to their babies.

7. Avocado: Avocados contain unsaturated fats, which help maintain proper blood flow to the brain. In addition, phytonutrients present in avocados help with brain development.

8. Yogurt: Yogurt is a very good developmental constituent in babies' diets. Yogurt contains vitamin B complex and casein protein. The vitamin B complex is essential for brain growth and the flow of neurotransmitters. The brain cell membrane is flexible and helps send and receive information from the brain.

9. Broccoli: Broccoli contains folate, riboflavin folate, and vitamin B6. It helps in neuronal development.

10. Berries: Berries contain a very high amount of vitamin C. They improve memory and learning capacity in children and reduce oxidative stress.

11. Cocoa - Cocoa consists of flavonoid antioxidants such as catechin. Flavonoids have brain-protective and anti-inflammatory properties. In addition, it improves the blood flow of the brain.

How Can Parents Help Boost Their Baby's Brain?

Parents provide love, care, and support to their children. They can help them build neuronal connections. Parents can help the child develop language and reasoning skills.

Following are the interactive activities that help grow a child's brain.

• Using Sign Language: Parents should use sign language when talking to their children. They should use their hands and fingers to communicate. Sign language helps a child's language development and intelligence.

• Story Telling: Storytelling helps form a child's vivid imagination and curiosity. Parents should read good stories to their children before sleeping. It helps incorporate morals and values into the child. Stories provide engaging and exciting ways to communicate with children. It develops the listening skills of the child.

• Hand Painting: Hand painting is an activity children of any age can perform. It develops the training in expressing emotions and imagination without talking. It brings out the creativity in the child. It is a calm way of logical stimulation and spatial intelligence in a child.

• Hunting Words: This game helps develop brain activity. It promotes learning with fun, keeps the child-focused, and improves memory. After playing this game, the child spells the words more accurately. The child also learns to respond quickly.

How Can One Recognize a Smart Baby Through Developmental Milestones?

When judging a child's intelligence, comparing them to others or past experiences may be unreliable. General milestone markers should be considered instead. Genetics, gender, nutrition, health, and adjusted birth dates can affect milestone achievement. Each child progresses uniquely, with variations in different areas. Consult the child's pediatrician if someone is concerned about their developmental timing.

What Should Be Done During the Developmental Stage of the Brain?

1. Age: Birth to 4 months -

• Engage in interactive activities like reading and making silly faces.

• Use tactile stimulation, such as tickling and moving objects slowly.

• Sing repetitive songs and narrate daily activities.

2. Age: 4 to 6 months -

• Help the baby hug stuffed animals and play with stacking toys.

• Introduce music with varying rhythms and colorful picture books.

• Allow exploration of different textures.

3. Age: 6 to 18 months -

• Communicate face-to-face to enhance language development.

• Point out familiar objects and people, and engage in repetitive songs and games.

• Encourage interactive play like hide and seek.

4. Age: 18 to 24 months -

• Play recognition games and introduce simple tools like crayons.

• Engage in direct communication and encourage independent play.

• Involve children in reading and word identification activities.

5. Age: 24 to 36 months -

• Offer praise for motor skill development and encourage imaginative play.

• Integrate real-life activities into playtime and involve children in storytelling.

• Foster word recognition and reading comprehension.

6. Ages 3 to 5 -

• Teach sharing and play board games to learn rules.

• Limit screen time and offer choices for activities.

• Encourage exploration and curiosity, and engage in meaningful daily conversations with the child.

Conclusion

Early childhood is a crucial time for parents and children. Proper nourishment and a neurological foundation can help in good growth and development. Children explore the world through the eyes of their parents. Parents should take care of the child and observe the activity closely. In addition, parents should know how to strengthen a child's brain power.