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Unveiling the Secrets: 3 Simple Habits to Nurture Superior Intelligence in Children, Backed by Harvard Research

The Harvard researchers discovered that intelligent children tend to possess these three simple habits. This finding emerged from a study involving over a thousand participants, offering intriguing insights into the behaviors that foster intelligence.

Administrator

20 August, 2024

Genetics is not the sole determinant of IQ; environmental factors and education play a significant role. Research suggests that genetics accounts for only 40% of IQ, while the remaining 60% is influenced by daily learning and development. Therefore, parents should invest time and effort into their children’s education to maximize their intellectual potential.

A long-term study by American experts on early childhood development revealed that the period from ages 0 to 5 is the most crucial for brain development. During these formative years, appropriate educational methods can enhance a child’s intellectual growth and efficiency. These first five years can be considered the “golden period” for a child’s cognitive journey.

Intelligent children often share common habits, especially in their daily routines. A Harvard University study of over 1,000 children in a year identified three key habits that are prevalent among those with high IQs. Parents should be mindful of these habits to encourage and nurture their children’s positive traits and prevent wasting their intellectual potential.

Reading Habit

Children reading books — Children Reading Books

Numerous studies indicate that intelligent children often develop a reading habit at an early age. Reading not only broadens their knowledge but also stimulates brain development by creating a rich cycle of knowledge acquisition. Books enhance vocabulary, develop thinking and expression skills, and foster imagination.

Research from the Reading and Literacy Discovery Center at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital in Ohio revealed distinct differences in brain activity between children who prefer watching TV or using electronic devices and those who love reading.

Brain scans of avid readers showed an increase in white matter, which is crucial for language development and comprehension. In contrast, the brains of children who frequently viewed screens displayed uneven development and a lack of organization in areas responsible for learning.

White matter is essential for transmitting information between different brain regions, thus facilitating learning functions. If the communication network in the brain is underdeveloped, information processing slows down, making it challenging to acquire knowledge. This highlights the importance of cultivating a reading habit in children during their early years.

Healthy Sleep Habit

Studies have found that children with healthy sleep habits tend to have better overall health and brain development than their peers. Sleep is not just a time for relaxation but also plays a vital role in stimulating physical and cognitive growth. In fact, approximately 70% of the growth hormones necessary for a child’s development are released during deep sleep.

Research conducted by the American Academy of Pediatrics presented impressive findings: when children are asleep, their brain development rate doubles compared to when they are awake. Additionally, the amount of growth hormone in their bodies triples compared to normal levels. This underscores the significance of sleep for brain and physical development.

Conversely, a lack of sufficient and deep sleep, especially when children stay up late, reduces the level of growth hormone, negatively impacting their height and intellectual development. A study in the UK also confirmed that regularly staying up late can impair a child’s reflexes, reading comprehension, and mathematical skills.

Therefore, sleep plays a pivotal role in shaping a child’s psychology and intellectual development. To ensure their child’s holistic development, parents should establish healthy sleep habits early on, providing a solid foundation for future health and intelligence.

Healthy Eating Habit

Child eating healthy food — Child Eating Healthy Food

Recent studies have established a strong link between healthy eating habits in early childhood and higher intelligence quotients (IQ). Harvard University and the University of Adelaide, Australia, are notable institutions that have affirmed that children who consume nutritious foods tend to achieve higher IQ scores than those who frequently eat junk food.

A large-scale study involving over 7,000 children compared various diets, including processed foods, breast milk, and junk food. The results showed that children who were breastfed for at least six months and had a diverse diet, including beans, cheese, fruits, and vegetables between the ages of 15 and 24 months, had an IQ score that was, on average, two points higher by the time they turned eight. Conversely, children who frequently consumed cookies, candy, sugary drinks, and potato snacks during their first two years of life had IQ scores that were approximately two points lower than their peers.

This research emphasizes the importance of providing healthy food during critical stages of a child’s development. Therefore, parents should pay close attention to their children’s daily nutrition to promote their intellectual growth and overall well-being.

Frequently asked questions

The article suggests three simple habits that can greatly impact a child’s intelligence and cognitive development. First, encouraging physical exercise and a healthy diet can improve brain function and overall health. Second, ensuring adequate sleep helps consolidate memory and enhances learning ability. Finally, creating a stimulating environment with varied experiences and challenges fosters brain plasticity and adaptability.

Physical activity boosts brain function by increasing blood flow and oxygen to the brain, enhancing cognitive abilities. It also promotes the release of neurotransmitters and endorphins, improving mood, focus, and memory retention.

During sleep, the brain consolidates memories and strengthens neural connections. Adequate sleep helps children process and retain information, improving their learning capacity and academic performance. It also regulates attention, mood, and behavior.

A stimulating environment offers diverse experiences and challenges that engage a child’s cognitive, social, and emotional skills. This includes activities like puzzles, reading, creative play, and social interactions. Such environments foster brain plasticity, adaptability, and the ability to learn from experiences.

A nutritious diet provides the brain with essential nutrients, such as omega-3 fatty acids, vitamins, and minerals, supporting optimal brain function and development. Avoiding excessive sugar and processed foods also helps maintain stable blood sugar levels, which is crucial for concentration and cognitive performance.