It is the joy of every parent to watch a child develop and grow. We love to see them process information through various activities like imitating words. Development in a child is a continuous process with predictable sequences. Since a child is not able to express their feelings well in case something is not right with them, parents are on the lookout for ways to ensure their children grow with intelligence and good health. Below are five ways to help improve the early development of a child.
Reading
Sometimes reading to a child may be a difficult task. However, as parents and guardians, we want our children to start in life with intelligence and positive growth no matter how difficult it might be. Reading is one of the best ways to promote the development of a child. It kicks start language skills even before the toddler can recognize words.
Children find learning interesting and can be taught how to read. The challenge is learning how to teach them. If you have studied about the importance of early childhood education and you don’t know where and how to start, do extensive research online to see an overview of how you can begin to teach reading to your toddler. To make it more fun, repeat the same books to build further recognition of words and images. The child starts to point out specific images on the pages as a way of mastering.
Playing
Playing is an excellent way to help in the development of a child. Interacting with babies is the key to cultivating a positive early development. It is a natural way for kids to stay happy and keep active. A freely chosen play is crucial for the healthy development of every child. For a child to have good mental and physical health, they need different unstructured play opportunities.
Coloring is a plaything that kids enjoy for their development. It is an excellent way to keep a baby engaged, especially when they can’t read yet. It also helps to develop useful motor skills that come in handy when the child is learning to write because it needs firm precision and handgrip. Playing peek-a-boo and sorting toys into piles are also excellent to engage children.
Cuddling
Cuddling is an easy way to love your child. Children need to grow up feeling loved and cared for. Just like grown-ups, babies can feel stressed, that is why cuddling is essential. Let the baby know that you are there to offer the necessary comfort. Responsive care helps toddlers handle stress in a better way. Cuddling also serves as a good exercise, which improves the development of a child. Holding the child up as you bring him down is a way to burn calories.
You can try with a calorie calculator and see how many of those you burn during cuddling. When you look at the development in children, you realize that kids whose parents demonstrate love are smart with high intelligence, compared to those whose parents have less time for them. Providing your child with a safe and loving environment requires cuddling at a tender age. It affects their development.
Baby Talk
Having a conversation in a baby talk can enhance a child’s development. Get some alone time with your infant. Baby talk is best achieved when no grown child or adult is around. You can talk to the baby while changing a diaper, or as you rock it to sleep. When the baby gurgles or coos, make the same sounds along with it. If the baby tries to talk back, look in their eyes, and respond with a smile or any other love language. Don’t interrupt or look away. The child needs to know you care by listening. Sometimes you can throw in some grown-up speak. The baby needs to hear how words sound in everyday vocabulary.
Listen to some music
According to scientists, babies develop millions of neural pathways each day. These neurons are usually used throughout their lives to receive info. One amazing to note is that music helps stimulate these neurons. When activated neurons help a child with the development of emotions, social, language, and cognitive functioning. It will help much if you, therefore, exposed your child to different types of music with varying meters and tones.
Sing together
Doesn’t singing along with your baby sound fun? Well, the fun bit is that doing so has more benefits than you could imagine. According to specialists, you should form a habit of singing when holding your baby close and exaggerate the movements of your mouth. It will help much if you also went ahead and validated their responses by imitating them. Doing so encourages them to be more spontaneous, and that’s how babies learn. When singing together, be sure to play both fast and slow songs as this helps much when it comes to early child development.
Don’t leave him behind
When was the last time you stepped out with the little one? The truth is that most families find it stressful to go shopping, for example, with their child. What you may not know is that by doing so, you may be limiting your child to learn new things. You can consider taking a walk along the streets, on his or her story. Young kids are active and are observant of the new environment. During the walks, you can point and mention things that you get along the way.
For instance, when you find a supermarket, point at it and say the name to the child. Make them repeat what you say. By doing so, you help them familiarize themselves with the supermarket. The next time you pass by a supermarket, you will be surprised that he or she will be the one shouting the name. Make this a habit, and you will be surprised at how quickly the young one will learn the surrounding.
The above activities are all free and can be easy to fit into your everyday baby routine. The value of child development is immense. These moments allow the child to develop the most essential skills for growth, which are communication, creativity, collaboration, and critical thinking. Try to implement the activities in the development of your child.