Learning Links Childcare

Facebook Instagram Twitter Pinterest Linkedin Youtube
Menu
Menu

9 Ways To Boost Your Child’s Brain Development & Learning

Our vision Everyone Learning, Everyone Leading, Everyone Succeeding encompasses this notion.

Learning – through play and meaningful real-life experiences, within the centre and local community children develop the essential life skill and characteristics they need in order to thrive in the 21st century.

Leading – teaching 21st-century leadership and life skills based on the idea that there is a leader in everyone and leaders strive to be the best version of themselves.

Succeeding – we believe every child has the potential to succeed. Through love and support our children will grow and develop as competent confident learners, healthy in mind body and spirit, secure in their sense of belonging and ready for school.

Learning Links understand that sometimes parents and whānau need support from others to do the best job they can. We take great care and responsibility to be involved in promoting quality child care in our community. We do this by encouraging children’s learning through responsive, reciprocal relationships with people, places and things in their world which provides an incredible opportunity to positively affect child development.

Our Niche is to provide consistent high-quality ECE Centres with the vision of Everyone Learning, Everyone Leading, Everyone Succeeding.

We agree children should experience a variety of approaches to learning, as well as opportunities to interact with different types of learning media.

 

9 Ways to stimulate children’s brain development

 


 

1. PLAY

Play is important because when children play, it gives them lots of different ways to learn. Play also helps your child:

  • Feel loved, happy and safe
  • Develop social skills and physical skills.

 

Check this – How Children Can Learn by Playing More

 

2. TALK

When you talk to your children, they absorb every word. When you say a full sentence “look at the big red and white building” you are helping them develop their vocabulary. In response to your sentences, children make different sounds and gestures; it is their way of communicating with you.

 

 

3. READ

When you read a story book or share stories, it sparks a child imagination and curiosity. When you show a picture book to children, it helps them to learn about the world, and develops the child’s brain, ability to focus and concentration.

 

 

4. MUSIC

Children sway, bounce, or move their hands in response to music. Kids recognize the melody of a song, they enjoy nursery rhymes and songs which have familiar things like toys and animals.

 

 

5. ART

Children enjoy drawing. When kids say, “Look what I made!” As a parent or guardian, you are delighted to hear that phrase. When children get an opportunity to draw their imagination and thoughts, they gain confidence.

Gripping a pen or paint-brush, drawing dots and lines, mixing colors, cutting paper with scissors- all of these tasks require hand-eye coordination. When children spend time at art activities, their fine motor skills improve.

 

6. SLEEP

The two main stages of sleep are the REM (rapid eye movement) phase and the non-REM phase. People (all ages, including infants), experience dreams during REM sleep.

Sleep is an essential and indispensable part of a healthy lifestyle. Some studies have shown that kids who regularly get an adequate amount of sleep have improved memory, behavior, attention, learning, and overall mental and physical health.

The recommended amount of sleep according to Pediatrics-

  • Infants under 1 year: 12-16 hours
  • Children 1-2 years old: 11-14 hours
  • Children 3-5 years old: 10-13 hours
  • Children 6-12 years old: 9-12 hours
  • Teenagers 13-18 years old: 8-10 hours

 

 

7. NUTRITION

Nutritional experiences in early life can have long-lasting consequences. Nurturing the child’s body and mind is the key to supporting healthy brain development. Children care starts before birth and continues throughout childhood, which ensures that the child’s brain grows well and reaches its full potential.

There are also certain nutrients that are necessary for healthy brain development. These nutrients include: Protein, Zinc, Iron, Iodine, Vitamin A, Vitamin B6, Vitamin B12, and Vitamin D.

 

 

8. MOVEMENT/EXERCISE

Physical activity / exercise boost memory and thinking skills and can increase the size of children’s brains. A simple walking, running exercise, could make children sharper, healthier, and happier. Exercise leads to improved-

  • Blood flow to brain
  • Attention span
  • Fine motor skills
  • Enhanced learning skills
  • Better attention skills
  • More confidence
  • Sounder sleep

 

 

9. LOVE

Two-way communication always helps, and children become empathic. By responding to their signals, you let them know that their actions have an impact on you and give meaning to their experiences. Kids learn that their actions and feelings have an effect/impact on you, as they start to see you as an individual caring person. Love makes children-

  • Mentally strong
  • Physically healthier
  • Less fearful