Do You Want More Brain Power for Your Child?

All parents want their kids to be successful, and they are rightly proud of every success their children achieve. Something that perhaps not all parents realize, however, is the importance of the first few months and years in the intellectual development of children. Indeed, it has been argued that there is a precious window of opportunity before a child turns six, as kids are programmed to absorb knowledge during this accelerated learning phase.

Spend time nose to nose

Glenn Doman is acknowledged as one of the leading experts in child learning. He believes that every child is born a genius. He espouses a philosophy of spending as much time as possible nose to nose with your kids to help them realize their latent potential. In other words, be actively involved in your child's learning rather than propping them in front of a learning DVD and hoping that technology will do all the work for you. Another advocate of this hands-on approach is Jo Frost, an English nanny from the TV series "Supernanny." In her new show, "Jo Frost: Extreme Parental Guidance," Frost points out that "parents spend an average of 49 minutes per day actually doing things with their children."

Ensure healthy eating

Most of us are familiar with the mantra that a "healthy body means a healthy mind," so it should be obvious that we increase a child's ability to learn by providing him with nutritious food. Breast-feeding, of course, is also highly recommended in the first year. Then, small children's intake of salt and sugar should be limited, and they should be encouraged to eat fresh fruit and vegetables. Rather than blending all their food into a homogeneous mush, consider a baby-led approach in which your child feeds himself and gets to experiment with different food textures, tastes, and colors. All these elements can help ensure your child's vitality and ability to learn.

Stimulate frequently

Babies should be viewed as little scientists, keen to explore and map out their surroundings. In his book "How to Multiply Your Baby's Intelligence," Doman asserts that "at birth the child is an unwritten book with the potential to be anything that any human being ever was or is or may ever be." However, these diminutive scientists need new experiences and challenges in order to begin to build up their world picture and to remain enthused by the prospect of learning.

Teach independence

A parent should avoid telling a child what to think. Indoctrination leads to closed minds and stunted intellectual development. Always try to present your child with facts and viewpoints, but encourage him to work out what the answer for himself. He will make mistakes along the way, but the habit of thinking for himself should reap huge benefits throughout his life. In contrast, learning by rote is not the route to increased brainpower or to creating a genuine love of learning.