When it comes to brain training activities for children, we often think of math or analytical, thinking activities. However, parents can help their children exercise their brains with simple, easy-to-follow activities like the ones below.
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1. BRAIN TRAINING ACTIVITIES WITH READING BOOKS, NEWSPAPER
Reading will help expand children’s vocabulary and enhance their imagination. This helps children develop creativity, while helping to improve language skills. And this activity is simple, parents can let the children read it themselves without necessarily interfering.
Parents need to have a list of reading materials that your child will enjoy and that are appropriate for his or her age. For example, you can observe when your child reads part of the daily newspaper, depending on their age. Or you can buy a book or story that is appropriate for your child’s age.
2. PUZZLE GAMES
Puzzles are a fun way to keep your brain busy. Your child will have a great time with matching pictures of their favorite cartoon characters, fairy characters or objects. You can have your child start putting pictures together at an easy level and increase the difficulty level over time.
According to research by the US National Center for Biotechnology Information, jigsaw puzzles help increase children’s cognitive abilities and protect the brain from aging. The puzzle game is also a fun activity for the whole family to do, you can make a plan to assemble the picture and ask your child for help so that the child can both have a good time and exercise their brain.
3. DRAWING
Letting children draw pictures is a great activity for the creative development of children. This activity helps stimulate the brain, supporting other areas of development such as communication and emotional expression in children. When drawing pictures, children like to draw messy pictures, it’s okay not to follow any topic and this is also a way for children to freely express their creativity. Teaching children to draw is a great way to introduce them to the world of art, and you can expand upon your child’s age and through different forms such as painting or photography.
4. LEARN TO PLAY AN INSTRUMENT
Learning to play an instrument is a great way to exercise your brain and a great skill to develop over time. According to Everyday Health, an American health website, playing musical instruments enhances our memory. Furthermore, for children, learning to play an instrument helps with hand-eye coordination because the child has to play the instrument and read the sheet music at the same time. Plus, it also helps improve math skills because learning to play an instrument involves understanding the rhythms, melodies, and scales in music.
5. PLAY WITH BLOCKS
Letting children play with building blocks is also a great idea to help train their brains. Playing with blocks helps children become more aware of things like balance, weight, space, and gravity. Moreover, it also helps practice problem solving skills when children are trying to build something or when assembling one block that doesn’t match up with another. This process is also a great time for children to exercise their creativity.
6. ANSWER THE QUESTIONS
This activity sounds normal but is extremely important and effective in training children’s brains. When you ask your child lots of questions, it helps to spark their curious nature. It also stimulates children’s thinking and improves their speaking skills and vocabulary. You can chat, ask questions as simple as talking about a child’s day such as: What did you do today? Did you have fun ? Why? How is your child’s mood? Keep the conversation engaging and maybe bring some of the child’s interests into the discussion so that he continues to be engrossed in the conversation.
7. STAIRS COUNTING
This is the simplest and most suitable for toddlers and young children. As your child is learning to climb up and down stairs, count each step with him as he learns to climb the stairs. This will help plant the numbers in your child’s memory and your child is having his first math lesson without even realizing it.
8. LEARN TO BAKE
It sounds odd, but according to Today’s Parent – a Canadian children’s magazine, following a recipe like baking will help children practice the ability to follow a plan. Children are constantly thinking about what needs to be done next, keeping their minds stimulated, and at the same time following a pre-written plan, i.e. cake recipe.
Of course, the cake recipe can be any recipe you’ve learned or come up with yourself. During the baking process, encourage your child to constantly watch the recipe and make sure they are following it. This process also has the added benefit of weighing ingredients to help familiarize your child with measuring techniques.
Children learn through playing. Therefore, they should feel comfortable to intake more knowledge. Parents should not put too much pressures on your beloved babies so that you will not hurt their feelings. There are lots of learning activities that help children learn with less pressure. Parents can consider and apply for your kids.
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