6 Cognitive Learning Exercises That Have Proven To Work With Infants!

Perhaps the biggest asset an infant can have from formative years is cognitive learnings that re-wires the brain for life. With multiple scientific research and observations made by doctors, it is now a fact that a baby's brain is clearly receptive and open to learning from a very early stage! Incredibly, a toddler's brain has twice as many neural connections as an adult’s, making it more pliable and malleable than adults!

Here are some cognitive exercises you can do with your child that will certainly boost your baby's brain power!

1. A healthy pregnancy.

Make sure to give your baby a good headstart. Research suggests that pregnant mothers who are on doctor-prescribed drugs or smoke have a higher chance of damaging the cognitive ability of their children even before birth. This may manifest in outbursts and unprovoked behaviour in infants in early childhood. A healthy pregnancy term is vital for your child!

2. Increase the baby talk.

Also called 'parentese', respond to your baby's attempts at communicating with exaggerated cues and facial expressions. Not only does this increase understand between parent and child, but research suggests that this also develops the part of the baby's brain that is responsible for speech and producing language!

3. Invest in toys and hobby classes for your Baby!

The myth surrounded very costly 'baby classes' and/or 'curriculum-based learning' for infants is just that - myth. There is no need to invest in these fads, instead, get a group of new mothers together and start a hobby class. Not only do the toys and movements of the class stimulate every area of your baby's brain, but it goes a long way of creating an association between colour, shapes and even numbers! This way you reap the benefits of group learning for your infant without burning a hole in your pocket.

4. Create an early passion for reading.

Make a selection of books which have large and colourful pictures and celebrate your baby's delight in looking at them by pointing to the pictures and making sounds. Start pictures to words associations like pointing to a duck and say 'quack-quack'. Remember that building your baby's receptive language is more important than developing his or her expressive language in infancy. Practice diphthong for the same purposes.

5. Respond swiftly when your baby cries.

Nurture, sooth or touch your baby when it cries to build positive brain circuitry in the limbic area of the brain, which processes emotions. These acts from parents suggest emotional security to the child's brain, making it a pivotal experience for future cognitive and emotional wellbeing.

6. Visit interesting places.

Not necessarily travel to these places, but make sure you keep changing the surrounding for your child. The pool, park or hobby class, a child's brain is constantly adapting and learning. Be careful to note when your baby is curious or introspective - they will stop making noises and extend their arms or face to inspect something that fascinates them. Be patient till they are displaying curiosity about the items or place, and then make word associations.