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