Did you know babies are born with over a 100 billion brain cells. So how can you help your baby's brain development?

Your Baby's Brain.

Your baby’s brain started growing before birth. When she was born her brain was about one-fourth its adult size. Your baby’s brain will grow at it's fastest until she is about three years old.

How a baby’s brain grows depends on many things. Some things are inherited from parents. Others depend on your baby’s health, nutrition, experiences and relationships. The way your baby’s brain develops depends, in part, on what you say and do with her.

It all boils down to creating a loving and stimulating environment. Because the brain operates on a use it or lose it principle - what your baby sees, feels, hears, and experiences is very important. Stimulating your baby’s brain is as simple as talking and singing to her often. Try placing interesting objects and pictures near her so she can observe and learn. Simple games such as Peek A Boo also aid in stimulating your baby's brain development. Help your child get a smart start and play with him or her every day.

The Use it Or Lose it Principle

Babies who receive lots of love and attention learn better. The reason for this is because brain development relies on the way the brain is used. Everything your baby experiences or doesn't experience either strengthens or weakens connections within the brain. Your baby’s brain has many, many neurons or brain cells. The types of activities your baby has with objects and people stimulate these neurons. This allows the neurons to make important connections in the brain. Everyday activities determine how these connections are formed.

Nature VS Nurture Debate

We are born with certain genes (nature) which interact with the environment (nurture) both of which effect the way a baby's brain develops.

Role of the Parent

Babies come into this world eager to connect with you. This emotional attachment encourages your baby to want to learn. Your love and attention provides the foundation for the type of person your baby will grow up to be.

Activities like holding and playing with toys or listening to people talk are important. This is why your child needs stimulation and play. She needs to know you love her. She needs to be able to explore and find things out. She needs you to talk to her and interact with her. These things will all help the part of brain development that depends on experience.

How should you provide these experiences for your baby? There isn’t any one answer. We do know that babies develop better:

• When they hear language
• When they have experiences with toys or objects
• When they know that people love them and pay attention to them

What’s important is to find activities that you and your child enjoy doing together. When you do this, you are not just having fun with your baby. You are helping her brain to grow

Next: How to nurture your baby's brain development

By Nicole Rawson-Huff

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