Raising a child properly is one of the hardest jobs in the world, but there is no formal training on how to be a successful parent. The good news is that there are many ways parents can stimulate their babies' brains and use everyday events as exceptional learning opportunities. The following simple strategies can be effective in raising successful children. Incorporate these five vital behaviors into your daily routine to dramatically increase your child's chances of future growth. Having a successful child has nothing to do with money or extra learning resources. It all depends on you, the time and the extent of your interaction with the child.
1. Encourage the baby to talk as if you are having a real conversation: Babies have limited sounds and movements, but this is their only way of communicating. Parents need to respond to the baby's sounds, signs, and actions and engage with them throughout the day.
2. Read to your baby: Even though babies are not yet talking or reading, they are ready to learn. Even at 3 months, they can recognize any sound used in any language around the world. Each time you read aloud to your child, you reinforce his or her language skills.
3. Use everyday experiences as learning opportunities: Everyday activities are great opportunities for babies to learn (bathing, arranging laundry, cooking, etc.). Speak what you do to encourage your child to talk and learn. To teach math, count and arrange laundry and play with food and its texture to enhance scientific thinking. Creating faces that show different emotions is a great way to teach emotional intelligence.
4. Take play seriously: Young children are constantly learning. When they play, they learn and practice important life skills. Make-believe play allows them to experience and understand the feelings of others. When they play with others, they learn to compromise and take turns.
5. Be a good role model: Babies observe and imitate all you do. Babies will do these behaviors themselves by watching their body language, how they treat others, or how you react to a challenge. The way you behave around the baby shapes his future personality.
Source: UNICEF