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19 simple ways to make

your baby smarter
Kelly St. John Regier ·
12:52, Jan 10 2017

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​What's the best way to boost your baby's IQ? It
killed by father was 'an angel
doesn't take a genius, just a willing parent.
to us', mother says

What's the best way to mentally 3 Dunedin students given

stimulate your baby? It doesn't take a ultimatum over flat condition
genius. Just a loving, involved parent. complaints keep names secret
Here are 20 ideas for fun and simple
things you can do to boost your baby's 4 Earthquake claim denied
IQ. because of 30-year-old
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1. READ A BOOK
5 More freezing temperatures
Your child is never too young to be expected overnight across the
read to, says Linda Clinard, a literacy country
consultant and author of Family Time
Reading Fun. Cuddle up with your baby
6 I thought I was being safe, but
I still found myself 18 and
and look at a book together.
pregnant
Even before babies can understand 7 All Blacks: Cruel twist in great
what you are reading, "They will story about prop Karl
associate reading with cuddling and Tu'inukuafe
love," Clinard says. Infants are
especially drawn to books with real 8 Quiz: Afternoon trivia
pictures, she adds. challenge July 31 2019

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Even a 3- to 5-month-old baby has opinions -

show him two toys and watch which one he
seems drawn to look at or touch.

2. CUDDLE AWAY

Human brains are wired to seek safety,

and if a baby's brain doesn't feel safe,
it can't learn. The love and cuddling
you give your baby can help establish
her sense of security. "From the time a
child is born, that soft and loving
voice, and soft touch speaks to

children so much," Clinard says.

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3. SING

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Nursery rhymes, TV jingles or your

favourite top 40 hits - babies love to
hear you sing.

4. MAKE EYE CONTACT

Gaze into your newborn's eyes. Within

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a week, infants can recognise their
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5. NARRATE YOUR DAY

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Talk to your baby - a lot. Research has

shown that the greater number of

words children hear from their parents
and caregivers before age 3, the higher
their IQ. Tell them what you are doing,
what you are thinking and what they
are seeing.

6. USE THE RIGHT TONE

That baby-friendly, higher-pitched

tone that many parents instinctively
use has a purpose. It helps baby's Advertise with Stuff
brain learn language by making the
vowel sounds more distinct, and the
higher pitch is easier for a baby to
imitate.

7. COUNT ALOUD

When you wash your baby's hands and

feet in the tub, count his fingers and
toes aloud. Count his toys with him,
or, when he is older, the Cheerios he is
learning to self-feed. Soon enough, he
will join in.

8. POINT YOUR FINGER

Research shows that children learn

language faster if you point to an
object while saying the word.

9. BREAST-FEED, IF YOU CAN

Research has found a small but clear

link between breast-feeding and
cognitive development. So if you can,
breast-feed exclusively through age 6
months and continue at least partial
breast-feeding until age 1.

10. TURN OFF THE TV

The American Academy of Pediatrics

says children should not be exposed to
any screen time before the age of 18
months, says Rosette Yson-Zaragoza,

a pediatrician with Southern Orange

County Pediatric Associates. "Those
kind of non-interactive viewing
situations can be harmful to a baby's
language development," she says.

"Stick to real people until 18 months,

and after age 18 months, if they are
going to watch anything online, watch
and view it with them, and talk about
what you are seeing."

11. RESPOND TO YOUR BABY'S NEEDS

IN A TIMELY MANNER

When a baby cries, she is

communicating a need for something
like comfort, food or a diaper change.
When you respond to her cries, she is
learning that you can be depended on.
It's not spoiling a baby to answer her
cries.

12. GIVE HER A CHOICE

Even a 3- to 5-month-old baby has

opinions. Show her two books or two
toys and watch which one she seems
drawn to look at or touch, Clinard says.

13. PLAY PEEKABOO

Hide-and-seek with Mom or Dad is

not just hilarious for children. It also
teaches babies that objects can
disappear and then come back.

14. TICKLE HIS TOES

Playing games like "this little piggy"

with his toes teaches your child to
anticipate events.

15. GIVE HIM A BREAK

Watch your baby for signs of over-

stimulation. If he is looking away,
don't force it. Give him downtime on
the floor without music or bright lights
so he can amuse himself, play quietly
or crawl.

16. GET OUT

Maybe it is a puppet show at the

library, a breezy day at the park or a
stroll through the zoo. Your baby will
be entertained by new sights and
sounds. Check out your local library for
infant-only events and endless ideas
for developmentally appropriate
activities.

17. REFLECT ON IT

Show your baby a mirror. At first she

might think she is eyeing another
child, but she will love making the
"other" baby smile and wave.

18. PLAY "DOWN THEY GO!"

When your baby is at least 6 months

old, sit her in her high chair with soft
toys or balls on the tray. When she
throws them to the ground, talk to her
about what she is doing. She is
learning cause and effect (when she
throws, a toy falls) and will soon begin
to look for fallen items on the ground.

19. PARLEZ FRANCAIS OR HABLAR

 19. PARLEZ FRANCAIS OR HABLAR
ESPANOL

If a parent or caregiver speaks another

language fluently, have them speak it
to the baby. "It's actually an
advantage for children to be bilingual
because it encourages parallel
thinking. It's not associated with
language delays" in English either,
Yson-Zaragoza says.

MCT

COMMENTS 5

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kittehkat 931 days ago

i learned something from my baby today (he is almost
11 week old), he cried when i left the room and when i
quickly returned he put on a big beaming smile. so i
figure he was either lonely, bored or just wanted
mummy. after this happening a few times my returns
got a little longer but he soon realized i wasn't far and i
do come back.

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Coastalgirl 932 days ago

Great advice, I did all of those things. At home with me.
Would daycare do these things? My husband and I
chose to have a parent stay at home with our children
and I loved it. We attended Play Centre for
socialisation. We are definitely not rich, it is often a
struggle, but we get through and it is worth it to us and
our family.

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ScottJ 932 days ago

"That baby-friendly, higher-pitched tone that many
parents instinctively use" may help make baby smarter
but it makes parents sound dumber.

Reply Share 1 reply Report

kittehkat 931 days ago

we don't care. our babies love it.

Reply Share Report

Digger Gardiner 933 days ago

awesome read, finally something educational and
useful!

Reply Share Report

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