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5 Simple Ways Parents Can Help Their Children Become Intelligent and Quick-Witted

Dr. Lisa Feldman Barrett, an expert in neuroscience and psychology with years of research experience, suggests that applying these 5 principles will help parents raise smarter and more adaptable children.

Administrator

16 January, 2024

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Encourage and Support Your Child’s Efforts

Children often enjoy exploring and doing things on their own without needing help from their parents. For example, they may want to solve a puzzle or dress themselves. It is best for parents to develop children’s awareness of their own autonomy.

Children may make mistakes, but that helps them learn and understand the impact of their actions on the world around them. The important thing is still the company and guidance of parents, caring and letting children learn to do things on their own within a safe range.

Expose Your Child to Different People

In addition to familiar people like grandparents, aunts and uncles, and friends, parents should try to expose their children to diverse environments as much as possible from an early age.

A 2011 study by Washington University (USA) found that children who frequently interact with people speaking different languages help them maintain important neural connections in the brain, which enables them to learn multiple languages in the future.

In 2007, another study showed that children who saw many diverse faces were better at remembering and distinguishing between different faces as they grew up.

Praise and Critique Actions, Not the Person

If your son hits the head of a girl, instead of judging “you are a naughty child,” parents should only criticize the actions of the boy for hurting his sister. Then require the child to apologize. This also applies to compliments.

Do not call your child “a good child” but praise their specific actions. In this way, useful concepts about the actions of the individual child will be formed in their minds, avoiding imposing prejudices about personality solely based on one situation.

Explain and Talk to Your Child More

Children who ask “why?” may make you tired, but if you explain to them, they will remember the information and stimulate their constant speculation about new things. When children repeat this process, their brains work more efficiently. Parents will be the guiding companions to lead their children to explore the world, instruct and explain new things to them.

According to research, even at just a few months old, even if children do not understand the meaning of the words their parents say, their brains still remember them. Thanks to that, a neural foundation for future learning is built. So the more children hear words, the more effective it is. When they grow up, children will have more vocabulary and better reading comprehension skills.

Be a “Gardener” Rather Than a “Carpenter”

From a piece of wood, carpenters can create any shape they want. But gardeners help plants grow by planting and cultivating them in a suitable direction.

Instead of forcing their children to pursue a certain career, such as becoming an artist or a businessman, parents should create an environment that encourages healthy development in the direction the child chooses.

For example, stimulate the child’s interest in music rather than insisting that they have to study it. This can have a counterproductive effect, making the child dislike music even though they didn’t before.

As parents, understand your child like a gardener understands their plants. Choosing the right “soil,” “fertilizer,” etc., will ensure their proper development.