The human brain is highly complex. And in the case of children, researchers have analyzed that their brain develops very fast in the early stages of life. The first five years majorly contribute to the growth and development of a child’s cognitive skills. In the early years of life, toddlers learn and grasp everything that is going around them. This enhances and develops the significant areas of the brain, including language and communication, motor skills, and cognitive and emotional abilities.
When we talk about cognitive development, it can be defined as how a child learns to observe their environment and interact with the same. A variety of instances and overall experiences contribute to developing cognitive skills in a child. However, numerous activities can play a positive role in encouraging the cognitive skills in a child’s brain.
Simple activities can promote improved concentration, enhance memory, and increase attention span. If you are looking for an out-of-the-box and immersive environment for your kids, escape room games are a great option. Simply search escape rooms near me, and you’d get a number of interesting options.
You can incorporate a plethora of fun activities into your child’s daily routine to boost their cognitive abilities. With that being said, let us have a look at some of the ways to develop cognitive skills in a child.
1. Plan outdoor activities
There is hardly any child that does not love playing outside. They learn exponentially when they are in real-life situations. Outdoor activities boost the imagination of a child. Therefore, incorporate outdoor playtime as much as possible. Go to the garden and let your kids play with the mud, smell flowers, and just have fun.
2. Explore noises
Explore the different noises that you and your toddler hear on a day-to-day basis. You can explain the different noises to your child. For example, let him know what a car horn, a doorbell, and birds sound like. Children, especially toddlers, are very fascinated by new sounds. By exploring a variety of sounds, you encourage a child to associate the noises with different real-life aspects.
3. Create Art
Children are usually fascinated by artistic things, be it painting, drawing, or building with their toys. You can sit with your child and play with some paint, allow them to dip their hands in some paint and explore with it. This will stimulate sensory development in your child. This type of fun activity also boosts the child’s imagination and improves the ability to comprehend images and situations. Furthermore, it is a great option to boost your child’s fine motor skills.
4. Learn the shapes and colors
Children love to explore and play around. Thus, you can use this opportunity to help me learn the various shapes and colors. You can incorporate simple sentences describing the physical appearances of the object around. For instance, you can say, “Oh, look, this is a beautiful red cube.” This will help your child understand the concept of shapes as well as colors.
5. Study the alphabet and numbers
You can play some fun melodies of the alphabet and sing them along with your child. This will help them associate a positive experience with learning. Moreover, seeing you, your child might start to imitate and start singing along. This will, in return, encourage the learning process and make it much easier.
6. Put on some music and dance
Music has the ability to enhance a child’s cognitive development. Therefore, suggest you put on some fun music and dance along with your kids. You can also turn on nursery rhymes that encourage a child to learn and discover new things. Dance and music encourage a child to develop a sense of coordination. It also enhances word identification as well as sensory perception. All the factors combined enable better memory and data retention.
7. Storytelling
One foolproof method of engaging your child’s mind is through storytelling. It allows them to interact with various concepts such as good-bad and love-hate but also sharpens their thinking abilities. You can incorporate reading into your child’s daily routine. Undeniably, it will help a child learn and enhance their imagination.
8. Encourage questions
As a parent or caregiver, you must always be willing to answer your child’s questions. As their brain develops, they need to feel a sense of security in your presence. So, if you encourage questions and try to ask them several things, you will boost their thinking ability. You can also start by asking some questions yourself.
By doing so, you will encourage thinking and better understanding in your child. This will create a healthy and interesting conversation with your toddler. Additionally, it will also develop a strong bond between you and your child.
9. Mirrors are a great help!
Mirrors can have a big impact on anyone’s life. You can introduce your child to the concept of mirrors. Simply take them in front of their reflection and help them understand different expressions and their association with emotions. You can ask your child to make a grumpy face and then elaborate on the meaning of this impression.
Similarly, you can ask your child to smile or laugh at their reflection, and you can let them know that this is associated with happiness. Playing and incorporating healthy mirror exercises in your child’s life can have an exponential impact on their self-image. That is why, if you decide to play with some mirrors, make sure that you are highly motivating and encouraging.
10. Include daily chores
We do not recommend you burden your young toddler with the day-to-day household chores.  However, you can incorporate some simple activities that encourage them to look after themselves. You can ask them to keep their water bottle, sipper, or toys in the right spot. You can also tell them to pick up after themselves and not litter here and there.
For example, if you bring a candy home for your child, just ask them to throw the wrapper in the dustbin. This will help you and your child understand the importance of cleanliness and help them lead an organized life ahead.
Conclusion
As a caregiver, it is crucial to create a nurturing and safe environment around your child, especially in the developing stages. In children, cognitive abilities play a major role in framing their perspective toward the world. It decides how children explore, communicate, think and process their emotions. So, be careful of the stimulators your child is interacting with and ensure to filter them out as necessary.
