| In order to raise a gifted child, first of | | | | different types of music. It will increase |
| all it starts with you - Yes, you as the | | | | his intelligence. |
| parent, the main caregiver of the child. This | | | | |
| is because you will be the one largely | | | | VISUAL STIMULATION |
| influencing and creating the right | | | | |
| environment to develop your baby into a | | | | Brain cells will not die off if they are |
| gifted child - genius. | | | | exercised. Providing visual stimulation to |
| | | | your child exercises his brain cells. Do you |
| Contrary to popular belief, a genius is not | | | | know that 70% of all information received is |
| necessarily "born" with a genius mind. A | | | | absorbed through the eyes? |
| baby's brain, without any external stimuli, | | | | |
| degenerates over time. According to Theva | | | | Showing your child flash cards, especially |
| Nithy in his book "Your Child Your Genius", a | | | | those with bright contrasting colours, and |
| baby is born with about 12 billion brain | | | | talking about them is a very beneficial |
| cells. In the average child, by the age of | | | | exercise. You don't have to spend a bomb on |
| 12, only 6 billion cells are left. Imagine | | | | flash cards. An alternative is to use your |
| what this "average" child could become if he | | | | own family photos or pictures from magazines. |
| was given the opportunity to develop all the | | | | |
| 12 billion brain cells! | | | | Another great (and free) visual stimulator is |
| | | | to bring your baby out wherever you go. For |
| Of course, the foundation of all nurturing | | | | example, bring your young child out for long |
| starts with unconditional love. But besides | | | | strolls in the park, letting him view the |
| love, how does a parent help a child reach | | | | green on trees, the blue of the skies, the |
| his fullest potential? | | | | pink of flowers. Or bring him to the grocer's |
| | | | - let him touch and see the red of tomatoes, |
| A healthy child is born with enormous | | | | the green of green peppesr, the orange of |
| potential. The mind of a healthy infant is | | | | carrots. You get the idea. |
| like a sponge. Experts call it the | | | | |
| "super-absorbent subconscious mind". A young | | | | READING |
| brain is able to absorb massive quantities of | | | | |
| information. | | | | The importance of reading from a young age |
| | | | cannot be overemphasized. Encouraging your |
| Parents carry a huge responsibility to | | | | child to read from a young age is important |
| provide the right opportunities using the | | | | because most of knowledge learnt is through |
| right techniques, to help their child reach | | | | words read - via books, magazines, etc. If |
| his fullest potential to become a genius, | | | | your child hates reading in future, it is |
| which he was born to be. | | | | going to be a huge impediment in his learning |
| | | | process from school all through to adulthood. |
| What then, are the right techniques? | | | | |
| | | | Begin by reading to your baby from birth, |
| Here are a few tips you can use with your 0 | | | | even when he is asleep. As he grows older, |
| to 6 year-old child: | | | | continue reading and singing (eg. Alphabet |
| | | | songs) with varying tones. Read aloud from |
| MUSIC | | | | books, let your child watch you point out the |
| | | | pictures, flip the pages from right to left. |
| Years of scientific research has confirmed | | | | When he can, encourage two-way interaction. |
| that music will induce alpha brain waves. | | | | For example, ask simple questions, ask him to |
| Alpha waves are associated with a calm and | | | | point out pictures, get him to flip the pages |
| focused state - this is the state in which we | | | | or simply hold the book steady. |
| learn and absorb information best. Playing | | | | |
| soothing music (eg. Classical) over time to | | | | Another suggestion is to bring him often to |
| your child can enable your child to reach an | | | | the library where he can learn from other |
| alpha state easily. This method of exposing | | | | role models - other adults and kids enjoying |
| your child to soothing music is to enable | | | | their read |
| your child to develop the ability to calm and | | | | |
| focus his mind at will. Over time, your | | | | CONCLUSION |
| child will learn the important skill of focus | | | | |
| and concentration for long periods of time. | | | | Knowing the techniques is not good enough. |
| | | | You must execute it. It means extra time and |
| Play the music throughout the day, quietly in | | | | energy required. For working parents, |
| the background if you can. This includes his | | | | spending time to provide additional nurturing |
| sleeping time. Remember that even when the | | | | opportunities to your young infant is an even |
| baby is asleep, he is still absorbing | | | | greater challenge because it means more |
| information through his subconscious mind. | | | | patience, more time required for creating |
| | | | such opportunities, and less time left for |
| During playtime, you can play more upbeat | | | | your own rest. |
| music like nursery rhymes or children's | | | | |
| songs. The faster tempo of the music will | | | | However, remember that your hard work will |
| help your child to remain interested in the | | | | pay off. You reap what you sow. Your |
| playtime activity. | | | | investment in your child now will reap you |
| | | | rewarding dividends later - happier, |
| As your baby grows older, it is definitely a | | | | self-confident, well-balanced children who |
| good idea to expose him to a whole range of | | | | enjoy learning and making friends. |