FOUR TIPS
Brain-building activities for your baby
A
By Cara Johnson-Bader s a new parent, you want to give PLAYING AND SINGING Research your baby the best start in life, highlights the importance of playing with and a wonderful way to give your your baby. Essential elements of your little baby the best start is through brain one’s growth are all developed and finedevelopment activities. It might seem like a tuned through play. Skills such as developing daunting task, but boosting your åbaby’s brain a healthy self-confidence, strengthening does not need to be complicated; in fact, it can listening skills, improving language skills, be a simple part of your daily routine. and growing important physical skills are all At New Horizon Academy, we know that the developed through play. best way to help your baby’s brain is to actively Whether it is games like “Peek-a-Boo”, engage her through everyday activities like “Pat-a-Cake”, singing “Twinkle, Twinkle, talking, playing, reading, and comforting her Little Star”, or using puppets, this playing and when she feels stressed. singing fosters imagination and creativity and Cara Johnson-Bader Here are four everyday activities that help your helps promote language development. little one’s development. You may think, “Well, I am not a good singer.” That is ONE-ON-ONE TIME The number one brain booster for just fine. Your singing voice does not matter. You are singing your baby is one-on-one time with you. Responsive, warm, to you baby, not being judged on American Idol, and your and supportive interactions between you and your baby build baby loves the sound of your voice and the attention you are the foundation for learning. giving him. TALKING Talk to your baby about what you are doing. READING Reading to your baby is one of the most Describe what you see together, such as, “Here is a bird. powerful things you can do to support brain development. He is red. See him fly in the sky.” As your baby begins to Studies have also shown that children who were read to as babble and coo, talk with her as though she is carrying on a newborns have a larger vocabulary, as well as more advanced conversation with you. mathematical skills, than other children their age and are By talking to your baby, you are helping her develop her better prepared to eventually start reading on their own. vocabulary. All that babbling and cooing is your baby’s You are the best brain builder for your baby, and it is through pre-language skills developing. Studies have shown that everyday interactions that you help your baby grow and develop. the number of words a child learns by the age of 3 grows Cara Johnson-Bader is the Vice President of Marketing and Parent in direct correlation to how many words are spoken in the Experiences at New Horizon Academy and mother of two young boys. home. Learn more about New Horizon Academy at newhorizonacademy.net.
Are your breast implants hurting you? Are you experiencing breast implant illness symptoms? Dr. Patrick Cole can help you with explant and en bloc capsulectomy breast surgery.
8 MAR/APR 2021 | Idaho Family Magazine
1070 N Curtis Rd, Suite 135 Boise, ID 83706 (208) 477-5014 fax (208) 803-6636 BoisePlasticSurgeryMD.com www.idahofamilymagazine.com
