Parents, admit it.
You love your child. But you’ve definitely worried about their abilities at least once. You’re worried about whether they’ll do well in school, and whether they’ll succeed in life.
So you might’ve also worried about their brain health and cognitive abilities. After all, your brain is probably the most important organ, right?
But hey, it’s natural, as a parent, that you’ll worry about how your child will do in life when they grow up. So don’t feel bad about it!
So with that in mind, I won’t judge you either if you’ve ever googled “How to increase my child’s IQ”
It might seem like a dream, but it is possible, you know!
So hold on to your heads, because your brain might explode.
With neuroplasticity, it IS possible to change not just your child’s IQ and brain functions, but yours as well!
What is Neuroplasticity?
During the early years of life, your child’s brain develops quickly. Like a Formula 1 race car. But as they grow up, it starts to slow down.
In adulthood, your brain’s growth is more like a regular Mercedes or Honda car. It’s still good, but not as good as a race car, of course!
Neurones (Neuro) are like the bricks of a house that is your brain. The ‘plasticity’ refers to how your brain can be shaped and “moulded” when there’s change.
To put neuroplasticity in simple terms, it happens when your brain changes and adapts because you’re going through a certain experience.
However, there are two types of neuroplasticity: functional and structural.
Functional Plasticity
When the brain is damaged, it moves its functions to an undamaged area.
Structural Plasticity
This is the plasticity that we’re focused on today. The physical change that happens to your child’s brain when they’re learning!
How Does Neuroplasticity Even Work?
It might sound unbelievable, right? A body part adapting physically to change? It sounds like something out of an alien movie!
But to understand how the brain does this, I’ll have to give you a short crash course on neurones and synapses first.
The more you use your neurones, the stronger and better they become! So if you never do activities that require “brain power,” these neurones grow weaker and die.
Neurones are also the “messengers” of your brain. They relay information through synapses. The more activities you do, the more information is passed through your brain. This makes your synapses work faster.
So what Are the Benefits?
Aren’t the benefits obvious? Your child’s brain grows. They become smarter, and their IQ/EQ increases. You’re happy, and everybody’s happy!
But seriously, see your brain as your bicep. The more you “work out,” the stronger and bigger your bicep gets. It’s the same with your brain. The more you use it, the bigger, better, and stronger it becomes!
Your child can pick up concepts and get over head injuries quicker, and they’ll be more resilient, adaptable, and can think more critically.
The more synapses that are produced, the more intelligent your brain gets, thus increasing your child’s IQ.
How to Nurture Neuroplasticity in Your Child
Neuroplasticity sounds great, doesn’t it? So now, how do you kickstart it in your child?
Move, move, move!
Exercise and physical activities aren’t just good for the body; they trigger a process in the brain that produces more synapses too!
A study showed that people perform better on tests that require memory, self-control, and critical thinking after exercising!
So if your child has a test, let them exercise the day before to boost their brain function!
Prioritise Nutrition
If you’re getting fuel for your car, you’d want the best fuel because your car deserves nothing but the best, right?
So it’s the same for your child! Did you know that the brain uses 20% of your body’s energy? That’s a lot!
Your child needs the right amount of the right nutrients to grow up healthy and perform at their best, just like a race car!
Get Them Thinking
This one’s an obvious one, right?
Going back to the comparison of your brain to your bicep, the equivalent of working your bicep out with your brain, would quite literally be anything where your child feels a challenge, which forces them to think.
So let your child do more revision books (their pain, your pleasure), read their Geronimo Stilton or Captain Underpants, or play their board and phone games.
Just remember to control their use of electronics to prevent eye problems!
PS: If your child needs help with their revision books, SmileTutor has 50,000 tutors that can help your child and their synapses!
Don’t Forget to Socialise!
Now that we’ve focused on strengthening your child’s brain and possibly increasing their IQ, don’t neglect their EQ!
I’m sure you’ve heard that IQ can only get you so far in life and society, and the rest is done by your EQ.
Socialising gives your child many real-world challenges to teach them how to behave and think in the real world that they can grow from.
Make Sure Your Child Gets Their Zzzs
Lastly, experts have revealed that the best bedtime for children is at 8–9 p.m.
But let’s be realistic parents. That isn’t going to happen. But making sure that they get at least 8-10 hours of sleep a night would be enough.
Because when your child’s asleep, their brain is still hard at work, processing whatever events and emotions they went through that day, which strengthens their neurons and synapses more!
Conclusion
Don’t stress yourself out too much over your child’s future.
You can’t change fate, but you can set them on the right path in life by giving them as much of an advantage as possible.
So relax, engage your child with purpose, and let the rest blossom.
A plant that is watered will bloom.
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