Your baby's brain grows stronger thanks to you during the first years
According to child development experts, you have a golden opportunity in your hands. It will not cost you money, and you do not need to be an expert, either. You just need to talk. This simple act will help lay a strong foundation for your baby's healthy growth for a lifetime.
It all starts with the quality of the interactions you have with your little one since birth. The more interaction, the more brain cells are fired, the more connections are formed in his or her brain, and the stronger the emotional bond with you.
One of the most compelling studies in this regard was carried out at an institution for orphaned children in Bucharest, Romania, where three American researchers analyzed the brain and cognitive development of 136 orphaned children, who had lacked frequent interactions or displays of affection.
The study began in the year 2000 and yielded impressive conclusions that demonstrated the importance of talking, singing and cooing to babies from the beginning of their lives. In the absence of affectionate interactions during the first year of life, the children showed difficulty establishing bonds of trust with other people and, in some cases, these were consequences that extended into adult life.
Frequent human interaction is essential for your baby to begin to develop speech, a sense of security, and trust in the world around him. During this time, focus on interacting intentionally, reducing distractions, and responding to your baby's attempts to communicate. The simple fact of pretending that you are both carrying a conversation helps him to develop in many positive ways.
What can you do?
Establish a reading routine from these first months. Even if your baby doesn't seem to understand, the sound of your voice will be soothing to him, and reading will soon become part of your family rituals.
Describe what you see around you, naming the things you have near and what you are doing. Try during feeding, diaper change, or walking in the park.
Play hide and seek, covering your eyes with your hands or a blanket.
Listen to age-appropriate music, with repetitive rhymes.
Avoid screens during the first year of life. It is not recommended that babies watch TV or use cell phones during this time, as their brains are not ready for the the fast transition of images. Plus, the time spent in front of a screen is time lost in the development of important areas such as speech, motor, and social-emotional.