How to raise a smart kid?

Question

What are some important steps to getting a child to learn to use their brain the best way possible at an early stage in development?

Answer 1

Do you want some practical advice? I think it takes a very gradual "lifestyle of learning". For example, this is how I taught my kids to read. I didn't, as many other parents do, read to them as babies, because they were uninterested in sitting quietly while I read an open book. But I did sing the ABC's all the time. So by the time they were 18 months old they could sing it perfectly (my 14 month old baby can sing part of it now). Then I introduced the alphabet to them in the form of a wood puzzle where I would pick up the pieces while singing the song. They could recognize their letters by the time they were 24 months. Then over the next year I gradually taught them the sounds the letters make. Then how to sound them out into simple words. Then simple sentences. Then more complex sentences. Then books. The end result is a 3 year old who is reading books, but they weren't overnight sensations. They spent over two years getting comfortable with the concept until they completely got it. Don't expect a child to just "get it" and presume they're not smart if they don't take to it immediately. Personally I don't believe in shoving academics down a child's throat, rather I'd prefer them to learn concepts organically from what they naturally encounter in their environment. Like teaching them the concept of math equations when they ask a question about how much stuff they can afford with their birthday money. That way what they learn is interesting and useful to them.
P.S.- my children don't watch tv either except for a fornightly DVD rental.

Answer 2

I think that the most important thing is to spend quality time with your child. All the educational items you can buy can't replace the time you spend with your child. They are nice to have, but in the long run, a persons child learns the most from whoever they are interacting with. You can make that time fun and educational at the same time. Explain things to them in the words that they can understand depending on their age. I never believed in "baby talk" with a kid. However you talk to them is what they are going to learn. If you baby talk them all the time, then you are only going to have to turn around and teach them the correct way to talk later. It is confusing to them & frustrating to you. Make everyday experiences a chance to teach your child something. Like when driving down the road or walking through the supermarket, talk to them about colors and shapes. Count the things you put in the cart. Let them help you measure ingredients when making dinner or baking something. Most of all, let them have an imagination and be creative. Children learn what they live!!!

Answer 3

Interaction with people is first and foremost in importance.

Then interaction with manipulative toys. Think blocks and balls and dolls rather then computers and electronics. Even "educational" electronics should take a backseat to other toys.

Then raise a reader by being a reader. Reading to kids is important. But so is them seeing you read to yourself.

After that you get into varying theories of what makes a child more intelligent but this gives a child the best start.

Answer 4

As such Kids at their early stages are fast learners. Particularly in picking different languages. It all depends on the living atmosphere they grow, which includes Family, School, Community and particularly Friends. But beware about putting extra pressure at an early stage, as you said. It may end up with negative results. First parents should taught discipline, cleanliness, etc., such relevant things will naturally stay in their mind for ever. Leave them on their own till the age of 5 years. As per our Indian Philosophy, for a Child Home is their first School and Mother is first Teacher.

Answer 5

Always talk to them like an adult. No baby talk. Encourage imaginative play - don't buy toys that do things buy toys that the child has to make a game with. Don't stick your child in front of the TV. Even Sesame Street will kill brain cells.

Answer 6

Well technology is good but not as a baby and forget the number cards and language cards and asl dvds.

You want to raise a smart , kind, loving child. Play with him or her, sing them songs, talk to them and not in cutesy baby talk, do finger play with them, READ to them as early as possible and every day. Play all kinds of music, not just the stuff you like. Allow them to experiement, say YES more often than NO, but say use NO when the little one is going to injure himself/herself or someone else or something else.

LIMIT TV and DVD viewing. And when you do watch tv with him/her make sure you're there and can talk to them about it , that lasts til maybe they're 25 or so.

Go out and physically play with your child, take him/her to parks , our for walks, to playdates. Don't be too possessive and overly obssessed. Expose that baby to all kinds of experiences and all kinds of people so he/she will not become afraid of everyone and everything. But also teach him/her about good touch/bad touch and how to be safe. Laugh often with him/her , model your behaviour to show them positive things, like kindness, compassion, empathy, gentleness and tenderness and how to stand up for him/herself without being violent.

Enjoy parenthood and child raising , support your child but also be supportive of his many teachers, you start him/her on his/her road to education, give him/her all the good building blocks- good health, good positive healthy self-esteem, good nutritioin, exercise, spiritual base to ground him/her, positive attitude and you'll have a very smart happy little person.

ONE last thing DON'T SPOIL the kid and give into every whim ,howl and tantrum, remember eventually someone else will be living and marrying the little prince/princess and he/she may think he/she is a little prince/princess too. Teach your little one to share and that it's not all about ME ME ME .

Answer 7

Spend time with your child...Play with them, teach them, dont plop them in from of the tv.... and most importantly, explain why! Whenever I see parents tell their child to stop...running in the street for example. They only tell them to stop. They don't explain the consequences of of why they shouldn't do that. How's a kid supposed to learn if no one explains the why of things.

Answer 8

What my mother dose is that:

Reading = 1hr
Math = 30 mins
Science = 45 mins
Social Studies = 30 mins
FCAT = 1 hr

I am in 6th grade doing 8th grade things

Answer 9

Interaction with a caring careprovider.

No toys, books, videos, etc have been shown to have even half the effect of attention from mom or dad (or whoever a baby has)

Answer 10

Well,You could get them into pre-school as soon as possible (get them into a good pre-school that teaches)and get them educational toys like a leap pad toy and play with them while they play it and you could even teach them some things of your own like numbers and letters and when they get to elementry school and threw out the rest of school and in college encourage them to do their best~!