Well-rounded brain development is based on two key foundations - Nutrition and Stimulation. Your child’s overall growth and brain development depend on good nutrition and stimulation that will help her reach her development milestones.

 

Identify Key Nutrients for Your Child

During this period, your child’s brain continues to develop rapidly. In order to help him reach his full potential, you will need to incorporate the right nutrients into your child’s diet, as good nutrition lays the groundwork for well-rounded development.

 
DHA is found abundantly in the brain.

Essential for growth

Important for red blood cell formation

Source of Dietary Fiber 

Protects the fat in the body tissues from oxidation 

Contributes to the absorption of iron from blood

Aids in maintaning the health of the skin and mucous membrane and helps in functioning of the eyes
 

 

Stimulation refers to a child’s active interaction with not only her parents but also with her environment. Stimulation helps to strengthen connections within a child’s brain encouraging development milestones. By understanding the milestones that signal development, you will be able to measure and track your child’s progress.

Encourage Milestones for Your Child

 

1 Year

  • Flip through the pages of a book and get your child to look at it. As intellectual development continues, they may even point to a picture of a cat when you ask where it is.
  • Have a race with your child. Stepping up their speed will help improve condition.
 

2 Years

  • To encourage communication, play back-and-forth games with your child - rolling a ball to them, for example, and asking them to roll it back.
  • Provide playthings that help develop motor skills like hand control, such as large beads to string or chalk to draw with.
 

3 Years

  • Talking, and responding to your child is one of the best things you can do to boost their communication skills and intelligence.
  • Keep a watchful eye on playmates without directing them, and offer guidance when needed. Say, “Use your words,” for example, if your child gets angry, or “Give your friend a turn.”
  • Provide your child with jigsaw puzzles of up to 5 large pieces and encourage their intellectual development as they try to place them correctly. 
 

4 - 5 Years

  • To build intellectual milestones, count objects during everyday activities, such as how many items are in your shopping cart.
  • To build motor milestones, show your child how to write their name. Don’t expect perfection - these ‘errors’ count as attempts and are common at this age.
  • Find new, interesting books to read together, and your child will likely to ask you to point out individual words as you read them. 
  • Give your child more opportunities for independence, such as going to birthday parties. The more involved they are, the more they will learn about adapting to different social situations.