10 easy ways to boost your child’s cognitive development

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These 10 simple tricks will not only boost your child's cognitive development but also serve as great bonding experiences.

1.  Sing-a-longs

Sing songs with your child and encourage them to sing along with you. Play their favorite songs and music in the house and car regularly and they may eventually start singing along by themselves. This activity helps promote memory and word identification.

2. Identify noises

Have your child identify noises that they hear throughout the day (i.e. a bird singing, a car horn, running water or the dishwasher). They will begin to understand how sounds relate to objects in their everyday environment.

3. Practice the alphabet

Help your child identify letters by singing along to the “Alphabet Song,” reading books about the alphabet, and playing with alphabet puzzles.

Here is an example of an easy game to help your child learn their letters:

a) Cut out individual squares that feature each letter of the alphabet written in bright colours.
b) Mix them up and tape them onto various surfaces in the house.
c) Go through the alphabet with your child and encourage them to search around the house to find the next letter and tape it to the wall in order.
d) When finished, leave the alphabet letters in order, up on the wall until you’re ready to play the game again.

4. Practice counting

Identify opportunities throughout the day to practice counting. Count the number of shoes in your child’s closet when they get dressed, or the number of slides on the playground when you go to the park. You may soon find that you’re counting everything!

5. Practice shapes and colours

Identify shapes and colours when interacting with your child. You can say, “That is a round, blue ball,” when playing in the yard or, “That sign is a red octagon,” when pulling up to a stop sign. As they get older, you can ask them to describe objects to you.

6. Offer choices

When you can, offer your child choices: “Would you like to wear the brown shorts or the blue shorts?” or, “Would you like string cheese or yogurt with your lunch?” This will help them to feel more independent and learn to make confident decisions that affect their day.

7. Ask questions

Another way to help your child learn to think for themselves, is to ask them questions: “Which toy should we pick up first when we clean up the living room?” or “Why is it important to walk down the stairs slowly?” Asking them questions helps them learn how to problem solve problems, and better understand how their environment works.

8. Visit interesting places

Take trips to your local children’s museum, library, or farmer’s market to stimulate their curiosity and provide them with “hands on” experiences. Ask them questions while you explore, and listen to their responses and reactions. These adventures can provide a learning experience for both of you.

9. Play with everyday items

Playing with everyday household items is educational, fun and cost effective. Encourage your child to match various sized lids to their accompanying pots or have them look in a mirror and point to their nose, mouth, eyes, etc.

10. Offer a variety of games

Play a variety of games with your child to encourage problem solving and creativity. If your child is young, the two of you can build with blocks and play “Peek-a-Boo.” As they get older, you can engage them in board games, puzzles and play “Hide and Seek.”
*Article originally published in Issue 2 of the Biolink Attention Training "E-ducation Magazine" (2018).


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