How to promote children's brain development?

After a baby is born, his brain enters a slow and long period of development. Every parent hopes that their baby will be smart and cute. Although we cannot change the innate genes, we can promote the baby's brain development through acquired efforts and make the baby smarter and smarter. So how can we promote the baby's brain development?

1. Brain development in children

The brain of a child around one year old weighs twice as much as it did when he was born, which is equivalent to half the weight of an adult's brain; at the age of two, it is three-quarters of the weight of an adult's brain; thereafter, the development of the brain begins to slow down until adulthood.

From the rate at which brain weight increases, it can be seen that brain development is fastest in the first 1-2 years. Therefore, it can be said that the first 1-2 years after a child is born is a critical period for brain development.

The so-called critical period means that during this period of time, children are most likely to learn certain knowledge and experience. If they miss this period, they will not be able to obtain or reach the best level. On the contrary, during this critical period, the brain is most vulnerable to damage, but its compensatory recovery ability is also the strongest. If the damage cannot be repaired in time, serious damage will often cause irreversible consequences and affect lifelong.

Brain development is affected by many factors, such as genetics, environment, education, nutrition and disease. Parents should avoid some adverse factors that may affect children's brain development. On the basis of priority, create a good living environment for children, provide them with rich environmental stimulation, good education and adequate nutrition, and their brains will develop healthily.

Genetics provides the foundation, and life experience creates the spirit and soul. The essence of early education is not to instill all kinds of knowledge, but to listen and guide children to understand the real world.

Brain development

2. The peak period of infant brain development

During a person's life, the fetal period and infancy (0-3 years old) are the two peak periods of brain development in babies, and preschool age (3-6 years old) is the continuous peak period of brain development. Supplementing with sufficient DHA during this period can achieve the purpose of strengthening the brain and increasing intelligence.

DHA can be converted from α-linolenic acid, so you can eat more nuts such as walnuts, black sesame seeds, marine fish, seaweed, etc., because α-linolenic acid is the mother of DHA, part of it can be converted into DHA, and part of it can be converted into EPA. The main function of EPA is to lower blood lipids. Taking too much is not good for the baby, so when supplementing pregnant women or infants, it is best to use products with small amounts or no EPA. DHA is unstable and easily oxidized, while lutein is relatively stable and is the guardian of DHA. It can promote the development of the retina in the infant's brain and promote the brain's absorption of DHA, thus promoting mutual absorption. Therefore, when choosing DHA supplements for pregnant women or infants, you can consider nutritional supplements containing both lutein and DHA.

3. How to promote brain development in young children

In fact, brain development is affected by many factors, and genetics is only one aspect. We should treat children's intellectual development with a scientific attitude.

1. Children’s rich and colorful life experiences in their childhood are conducive to the complex connections between nerve cells in the brain.

Children who grow up in a family full of anxiety and tension lack the skills to deal with problems and are easily overwhelmed by their own emotions than children who grow up in a loving and happy family. Scientists are certain that a child's early experiences play an important role in their long-term development. Experts have found that some natural and simple actions, such as hugging, patting, looking at each other, talking, smiling, etc., can stimulate the development of baby's brain cells. The essence of early education is not to instill all kinds of knowledge, but to listen and guide children to understand the real world.

2. Exercise helps children’s brain development.

Young children's exercise should be moderate and in line with the child's physiological and psychological development characteristics. Activities should be arranged for a certain period of time and proceed step by step. It is best to take children outdoors every day to bask in the sun, breathe fresh air, and increase the absorption of nutrients and oxygen. At the same time, help your child do chest expansion and arm extension exercises. When your child is older, you can teach him or her to do deep breathing and jog. When a child is learning to crawl, his forearms are not as strong as his legs. You can roll a colorful ball in front of the child to guide him to reach forward and grab it. When the child can walk, he can start doing activities such as pushing a stool, kicking a ball, and riding a stroller.

3. Sufficient vitamins help brain development.

The vitamins that have a greater impact on the baby's brain development include B vitamins, vitamin C, vitamin D and vitamin E. Modern scientific research shows that if a baby lacks these vitamins, it will directly hinder the development of the brain and even cause brain malformations.