No matter how old your children are, you have an immense power to affect their growth, development and success in life. By actively pursuing activities that contribute to the better development of their brain, you provide them with an advantage over all other kids, and increase their chances to be successful in life. By doing that, you also make sure they will have plenty of experiences of success and achievement, so that they become self confident, positive and optimistic.
There is a lot of talk recently about the "Right Brain/Left Brain" issue. Basically, researchers have found that the human left brain is "responsible" for completely different functions than the right brain. Researchers have concluded that in every person, one of these hemispheres of the brain is dominant. According to this theory, the left brain is the analytical one, responsible for measurement, logic, math, analysis and the right brain is responsible for creativity, art, intuition and the use of words. Some people even claim that men are left brain dominant, while women are usually right brain dominant, and proceed to explain that men think in pictures, while women think in words. No wonder, they claim, there is such a big gap in communication between men and women!
Research has shown that it is very important to increase the communication, or the connection between the 2 hemispheres of the brain. If we do that, we increase the functionality of the brain. This can be done in all ages, and has proven to be beneficial. Improved balance between the two hemispheres, improves peace of mind, harmony, reading and comprehension, and develops better concentration and focus.
The activities that have been shown to develop and improve the brain hemisphere connectivity are usually the ones that use both sides of the body in concert. The cross pattern we all use while walking or swimming and babies use when they crawl, develops and strengthens the connection between the brain hemispheres. By cross pattern, I mean the movement when we bring the right arm and the left leg forward, and then the left arm and the right leg. It has been shown that some brain injured children who did not crawl, developed severe handicaps, and by practicing the activity of crawling, they have shown surprising improvements.
If you have a very young baby, and you want to help it develop strength in both sides of the brain, you can massage both feet or both hands, for a few minutes, several times every day. When you gently massage your baby's feet, and stimulate both feet at the same time, and then each foot ? one after the other, and watch your baby's face, you will notice that your baby enjoys this activity very much. It is not necessarily a calming activity, because massaging the baby's feet is actually stimulating.
I recommend doing this a few minutes every day, before or after changing the baby's diapers. This activity also forces you to take a few minutes a day to look into your baby's eyes, smile to the baby, and massage its feet and hands. You will notice that it strengthens the bond you are creating with your baby, and this is a priceless bonus.
Another activity that has been proven to greatly contribute to higher intelligence as well as better health is swimming. This activity can be done at any age, and if you swim with your baby or your child, it will contribute to your health too. If you have a baby, find a "water babies" affiliate in your area. If you have an older child, there are many ways to involve them in swimming. Encourage them to participate on a swim team, or to get involved with a school swimming activity. Practicing every day will improve their health tremendously.
Very young babies enjoy being in the water, kicking their legs and use their arms for swimming. Many YMCA centers have baby swimming classes. If you have a swimming pool at home, or you belong to a club, you can take your baby with you into the water, and hold it in the water. However, make sure that the water they swim in is warm. Babies need a higher temperature than adults need. Also make sure the water is clean. The quality of water is important to children of all ages, and I have to remind you to watch your child at any time when they are in the water, to prevent drowning. Please use caution.
Be aware, that very young babies have a very heavy head compared to their body, and they cannot by themselves keep their head above water. So make sure that your baby is supported at all times.
Another activity that improves the brain connectivity and balance is crawling. If your baby is still young, and does not crawl yet, swimming is preferred. You can also team up with a friend or a partner, and "imitate" crawling movement holding the baby's arms and legs, in cross pattern. You stand on one side of the baby, while the baby is laying on its tummy, and the partner on the other side. You hold a hand and a foot, and so does the partner. Then while you bring the arm forward, the partner brings the leg forward, and visa versa, creating a rhythm. Do it just for a few minutes, while having fun. You can repeat it several times a day.
For all children who know how to crawl, make sure your child has room and opportunity to crawl. You might have to clean the floors, and make sure that the floor is free of little objects your child can choke on, but encourage the child to crawl as much as possible.
For older children, chasing each other while crawling can be a fun and enjoyable game. You can get on your hands and knees too, it will do you good! If you have several children, encourage them to play "catch" while crawling. This is good exercise, and it contributes to their intelligence.
Walking and running are natural activities, that utilize the cross pattern, and are great at balancing right and left hemispheres of the brain.
As we know, most people have a dominant hand. Statistically, most people are right handed, but there are many left handed people. In the past, (a few generations ago), it was common practice to force children to use their right hand for writing, tie their left arm behind their back, if they attempted to use it for writing. Children were punished for using their left hand for writing, cutting with scissors, playing ball etc.
For school age children, an exercise has been shown to create wonders: practice writing using your weak hand. If you are left handed, practice writing with your right hand, and if you are right handed, practice writing with your left hand. This can feel very awkward at first, and takes some practice. So I recommend turning it into a game. Do it with your child, take turns and compete. The person who writes clearer, or faster, wins. For example, every word earns a number of points, and whoever earns most points gets am award. Invent some games, and turn it into a fun activity.
Only a few minutes of practice a day, will make a big difference. And remember ? by doing this you are giving your child an advantage many other children do not have.
Another activity that is amazingly productive for your child: drumming. I know, this is not for everybody. If you cannot stand the noise, maybe it is not the right activity for you. However, when your child learns how to drum, he is using both hands in turn, and is also learning a pattern. It will be a lot of fun to play a game, in which one of you invents a pattern and "drums" it (you don't need a drum for this) and the other(s) have to recognize the pattern and imitate it. You can provide an award, and use it as an incentive. The pattern can become more and more complicated as you get better at this game. This game strengthens your child audio memory, improves the brain connectivity and improves pattern recognition.
For the last 26 years, Esther Andrews has studied, researched and practiced the ways to develop a child's intelligence. She served as the principal of the School for Gifted Education for 5 years. In her web site: http://www.all-gifted-children.com, free Ezine, free Ebooks and seminars, she shares her experience and knowledge with other parents, who are interested in providing the best for their children.
recurring cleaning service Mundelein ..Certainly we all want our children to excel. But it... Read More
Do any other reality TV junkies remember a show on... Read More
If your child is to derive the benefits of physical... Read More
Isn't the technology of today is amazing?! Between the speed... Read More
Are you a frustrated parent who sometimes finds it is... Read More
Nail biting in all its various forms is problematic... Read More
It has been a long day. Home from work, you... Read More
Have you ever wondered why toys for babies tend to... Read More
Vacations are fun ! Weekends with the family are nice.... Read More
Beyond cases reported to authorities, little knowledge exists on the... Read More
A great many parents are concerned that the electronic games... Read More
The older my daughter gets the more it's sinking in... Read More
Most day cares are non-profit organizations that must operate within... Read More
Hey Parents! I hate to tell you, but there is... Read More
Ritalin is a good medication with a bad reputation. Its... Read More
One of the challenges for parents with a gifted child... Read More
"Good parents give their children Roots and Wings." --Jonas SalkThe... Read More
Last week in my newsletter, I mentioned that... Read More
Do you want to create a deeper, more loving relationship... Read More
Dear Sir, It was with some interest that I read... Read More
Strattera came out around January of 2003, and is becoming... Read More
Is there a way to build a robot to help... Read More
I had my first two children on either side of... Read More
You have just received a call from your child's teacher... Read More
As a parent, you can learn a lot about your... Read More
tidy up service Buffalo Grove ..Summer Survival The... Read More
Recently I took my two children to a popular new... Read More
John Bishop's Goal Setting for Students.comLegacy to Your ChildrenIt's 6:30... Read More
Remember when cash was a tangible commodity in all of... Read More
As a step daughter and step grand daughter, I followed... Read More
This year alone, 1,600 teenagers aged 15 to 19 will... Read More
This article on parenting is by a practicing relationship counsellor/therapist,... Read More
Q. With the school year just beginning, what can we... Read More
There is no doubt that mothers play an all-important leading... Read More
All too often, children with learning disabilities are seen through... Read More
On a recent Saturday evening, I noticed a young teen-age... Read More
Over a number of years there have been issues raised... Read More
You want your daughter to wear a dress to the... Read More
Often I will hear parents say, "I just ignore Jr.... Read More
It's that time of year when mom and dad look... Read More
You may think once your child has gone off to... Read More
It has been a long day. Home from work, you... Read More
Does this sound familiar? Have your kids not listened to... Read More
According to researchers, most children enter school with a good... Read More
Children are moral and make moral determinations... at least until... Read More
When we consider that the word allowance means, "allowing for,"... Read More
(Excerpted from Jim Rohn's 2004 Weekend Leadership Event)You have to... Read More
If I had a dollar for every time I persuaded... Read More
Child Party Planning Guideline #1)Pick the ThemeYour child is going... Read More
Parents, when you help your children learn to read, you... Read More
Parenting |