The first three years of life is the most important period
for a baby's brain development.
A professor of developmental psychology at Harvard
University states that intelligence is not something that can be seen or
counted. It is the potential, and the nerve action potentials may or may not be
stimulated. "Indeed, when the nerve action potentials of children in the
golden period from zero to four years are stimulated, baby's brain will develop
optimally; the awareness will be enhanced; the ability to learn and remember
will be better.
Baby’s outstanding brain development in the early years of childhood
The first three years of life is the most important period
for the baby's brain development. A doctor at the department of Pediatrics says
that from 6 months to 3 years, the weight of brain increases by 80% compared to
the adult brain. From the third year onwards, the child's brain is still
developing, but slowly and until the 6th year, the connection
structure of the brain is almost perfect. "The most developing brain areas
in this phase are language, memory, hearing and vision. More specifically, from
the first months of life until three years, children attentively observe,
listen, attempt to remember and learn from everything around them, especially
the language. During this period, the children’s ability to see near and far are
also ascending and more flexible. From 3-12 weeks, children may follow someone
or something with their eyes. From 6-9 weeks, children distinguish faces. From 18-21
weeks, they recognize strangers and acquaintances. Children sense of hearing is
developing concurrently and very sensitive. From 9-12 weeks, children may turn
towards the sounds. From 15-18 weeks, they can locate the sounds and understand
the meanings of a variety of sounds.
Lutein – the nutrient for baby brain development
A new discovery of nutritional science shows that Lutein
nutrients do not only play an important role in the health of eyes, but also
are the main carotenoid contributing to forming the structure of the brain,
particularly in four regions of the brain related to the language function,
memory, hearing and vision with the highest concentration compared to other
carotenoids.
One of the scientific reports shows that Lutein takes up 66-77%
of carotenoid in the brain structure. Therefore, Lutein not only assists to improve
the children’s vision with the bright and healthy eyes, but also more likely has
a positive impact on the children’s cognitive function, learning and memory.
Foods containing
Lutein
One thing parents need to keep in mind is that the body
cannot synthesize lutein. This nutrient can be found in food sources. Infants
absorb Lutein mainly through breast milk. As children get a little older,
parents should choose to buy the dark green fruits and vegetables such as epina
leaves, cabbages, broccoli, and the types of tubers or fruits such as carrots, red
pumpkins, red bell peppers, or egg yolks etc. to supply children with Lutein
every day. Besides, the supplement of formulaic milk or other food substitutes
containing Lutein is also a good method to help parents provide Lutein for their
loved children.
Have a jolly time to develop critical thinking
The scientific information shows that the infants who are
from 18-21 weeks of age can recognize the strangers and acquaintances. From
15-18 weeks of age, children can locate the sounds exactly and understand the
meanings of a variety of sounds. Parents may base on the similar developmental
milestones to have fun with their children by playing music for them to
listen, calling their names; asking them to look at the mirror to identify themselves,
and so on.
The author of the book "Bright Start" (2003)
advises parents to enhance their loved children’s ability to remember through
daily activities such as asking them to find ones of the same pairs of socks in
the pile of clothes. Or when parents take their children out for pleasure, they
can take the photographs of their children and them, print these photos and
talk to them about these photos and arrange these photos together in order to
put them in the album. Thereby, the ability to learn and remember will
certainly be enhanced.
When children play
with their parents or friends, it is the period of time that they observe,
learn and remember and their awareness will be gradually formed.
