6 Simple Ways to Boost Your Child’s Brain

You may have heard before that young children’s brains are just like sponges. And in many ways, that’s true! Every single moment that they are awake, children’s brains absorb incredible amounts of information. According to the Harvard Center for the Developing Child, children’s brains form over one million new connections every single second in the first years of life. That’s a lot of brain power!

But unlike your kitchen sponge, a child’s brain keeps growing every single day. And, even more importantly, your child can talk back to you! In fact, medical experts tell us that it is through face-to-face interactions that young children best learn.

“Every time you read, sing, or even just talk to your child, you are helping their brain grow,” says Dr. Gigi Chawla, Chief of General Pediatrics at Children’s Minnesota, and Medical Director for Reach Out and Read Minnesota. “Your child’s brain is wired to watch you, mimic you, and learn from you all the time,” she added.

“The connections children make in infancy and early childhood will serve them their whole lives. When parents spend time interacting and bonding with their kids they are preparing their children for success in school, and a happier, healthier life,” said Dr. Chawla.

So how can you help your little one grow their brain and prepare them for a happy, healthy future? We have some science-based tips for you—and they might be easier than you expect!

1) Share a book together. We’ll start with our very favorite: books! When it comes to building children’s brains, books are the very best tool we have. Books can show children new words, stimulate their imagination, teach them about the world around them, and, best of all, they give you and your little one a chance to snuggle up and share something together!

2) Singing and dancing . A song, like “If You’re Happy and You Know It” may seem simple, but there is a whole lot happening behind the scenes in your child’s brain. Learning new words and phrases, matching rhythm and melody, and coordinating claps, stomps or other dance moves, all help “light up” many different parts of your child’s brain all at the same time.

Don’t worry—you don’t have to be a good singer or dancer! You only have to give it a try and we promise your child will have a good time (even if you think you’re totally tone deaf)!

3) Talking : Even if your child can’t quite speak on their own yet, we promise they will love to be included in the conversation! When you speak directly to your child, they will not only learn new words, but also they will begin to recognize speech patterns and facial expressions. You can talk about nearly anything with your child; the weather, cars or trains going by, or even your favorite TV show or sports team!

Whatever you choose to talk about, your child will love to hear the sound of your voice.

4) Free play: Your child has an amazing imagination; let them use it! Free, or unstructured play, simply means letting your child take the lead instead of having an adult telling them what to do. You can let your child make up stories, build their own creations with blocks, play dress-up with your old clothes, or draw a picture of whatever they would like! Free play like this allows your child’s brain to explore new ideas, helps them practice problem solving, and encourages independence.

5) Limit screen time. The World Health Organization recommends zero screen time for children under two and less than one hour per-day for children ages 2-5. In a world full of screens, we know this can be quite a challenge, but it is for good reason. Children need real world interactions for their brains to grow healthily, and screens don’t provide that.  Screens can also cause long term issues with sleep and attention spans.

When your child does have screen time, we recommend watching along with them, so you can ask them questions or talk about what is happening together.

6) Explore the world together : Whether it’s the grocery store, a library, or a nearby park, you can bring learning with you wherever you go. Your child is naturally curious and the world is full of new and interesting things! Ask them questions that go beyond just yes or no answers, like “where do you think those birds are flying to?” or “what is your favorite kind of fruit?”.

Wherever you go and whatever you do, every day is a chance to learn together. Make the most of it!

Did you know that you can get a free book at your child’s routine check-ups? Reach Out and Read Minnesota partners with clinics all across Minnesota to provide books and early developmental guidance for children ages 5 and below. Ask your child’s clinic if they participate in Reach Out and Read, or check out our clinic map here .

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