Early childhood is considered to be the most important developmental stage, when the foundation for core skills and mental abilities are built. During this stage, development is very rapid, and often requires proper attention and care to help achieve optimal mental, emotional and physical potential. Here are a few things that parents can do to help maximize their children’s ability to absorb new knowledge and skills.
Initiate an early habit and passion for reading
Exposing children to reading at a young age significantly improves their language skills and ability to learn later on. Parents should read aloud to their children on a regular basis, and they can make story time fun by using different voices and sounds, asking questions about the story, and pointing to images. Doing so exposes children to more words to expand their vocabulary.
Proper rest improves concentration
A study published in the journal Child Development show children who have had enough rest perform better in cognitive tests[1].A preschooler or kindergartner who has outgrown napping needs a solid 10 to 13 hours of sleep each night is sufficient, an amount that will gradually decrease as he gets older. With sufficient sleep, children have more energy to concentrate better when studying. Researches from the National Institute of Health[2],[3]have also revealed that children are able to retain information more effectively if they sleep right after studying. Parents can help their children get enough sleep by establishing routines and ensuring there are no distractions when it is time for bed.
A healthy diet helps support a healthy brain
A proper diet for children has a fundamental influence on their physical and mental development. The effects of eating certain food are often overlooked, but they should always be taken into account. For example, feeding children junk food before studying would cause them to be sluggish while chocolates may cause hyperactivity, severely decreasing a child’s concentration. Studies also indicate that children who regularly eat fruits and vegetables develop better cognitive skills and observational learning.
But since children can be picky eaters, even parents who are determined to feeding their young ones with the right food might have a hard time doing so. For example, DHA or docosahexaenoic acid is an essential nutrient for development of brain and eye function. But this fatty acid can is usually found in fish, and children might not like the taste or smell of it.
With Scott’s DHA Gummies providing 15% of the recommended intake of DHA+EPA per daily serving of three gummies, parents need not worry where to get the needed source of DHA for their children. These chewable DHA supplements come in fun, fruity flavors that children will be sure to enjoy. Scott’s DHA Gummies is a convenient way for parents to supply the required intake of DHA, and a delicious way for children to help achieve healthy brain development.
[1]Study Finds Naps May Help Preschoolers Learn https://uanews.arizona.edu/story/study-finds-naps-may-help-preschoolers-learn
[2]Memory for Semantically Related and Unrelated Declarative Information: The Benefit of Sleep, the Cost of Wake http://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0033079
[3]Immediate as well as delayed post learning sleep but not wakefulness enhances declarative memory consolidation in children http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1074742707001384?via%3Dihub