INTRODUCTION
As parents, we all want what’s best for our children. We strive to provide them with love, care, and a nurturing environment to help them grow and thrive. However, one aspect of parenting that is often underestimated is the importance of daily conversations with our kids. Engaging in regular, meaningful conversations with your children is a powerful tool for fostering their foundational brain development, especially during the crucial early years of life.
The Early Years Matter
The early years of a child’s life (especially uptill age 8 years) are a period of rapid & exponential brain development. During this time, their brains are like sponges, absorbing information, making connections, and forming the foundation for future learning. This period, from birth to around age five, is critical for cognitive, language, and social development. The experiences and interactions children have during these formative years can have a lasting impact on their brain & overall development.
WHY TALKING MATTERS
Language Development:
Regular conversations with your child stimulate their language development. They learn new words, sentence structures, and the nuances of communication. This strong linguistic foundation will not only help them in school but also in their daily interactions and relationships. Talk both in your mother tongue as well in say an international language like English – bilingual is better and kids become smarter/brighter if they are bilingual.
Cognitive Development:
Conversations are like mental workouts for kids. Discussing various topics helps them build critical thinking skills, problem-solving abilities, and the capacity to understand complex ideas. This cognitive growth is essential for academic success and life in general.
Social and Emotional Development:
Talking with your child provides them with a safe space to express their feelings and thoughts. This emotional connection fosters trust, empathy, and emotional intelligence. It also helps them understand social cues and navigate relationships effectively.
Vocabulary Expansion:
Exposure to a rich vocabulary early in life gives children a head start in school. The more words they hear and use, the more easily they can express themselves and comprehend what others are saying.
Bonding and Security:
Daily conversations strengthen the parent-child bond. Children feel valued and loved when their parents engage with them in meaningful discussions. This sense of security and attachment has far-reaching effects on their emotional well-being.
PRACTICAL TIPS FOR DAILY CONVERSATIONS
Be Present:
Create dedicated moments for conversation without distractions. Turn off the TV, put away your phone, and focus on your child.
If you’re taking your child for a walk /outing in a pram – talk to your child, then as well…it’s a fantastic brain development exercise!
Don’t just outsource the evening walk in the pram to a maid, always – talking yourself with your child is one of the best investments you can make on your child – start early – even talking with your child from day 1 is not too early…. The child will listen to you and very soon start acknowledging and start making conversational sounds …all of which are critically important!
Give your child a head start by talking with him/her daily – discuss with your child’s paediatrician too – about speech and other motor/physical developmental milestones.
Ask Open-Ended Questions:
Encourage your child to express themselves by asking open-ended questions like, “What was your favourite part of today?” or “Why do you think that happened?”
Listen Actively:
Show genuine interest in what your child has to say. Listen attentively, ask follow-up questions, and validate their feelings.
Use Everyday Situations:
Use daily routines like mealtime, bedtime, and car rides as opportunities for conversation. Share stories, discuss their day, and explore their interests. Encourage your child to talk with others – say in a lift or engage with a shop keeper – leverage every opportunity for your child to engage …. learning is not just @ school!
Read Together:
Reading books together is an excellent way to engage in conversations about the story, characters, and themes. It also fosters a love for reading.
Be Patient:
Children may take their time to express themselves. Be patient and give them the space to communicate at their own pace.
CONCLUSION
TALKING WITH YOUR KIDS DAILY IS NOT JUST A SIMPLE ACT OF COMMUNICATION; IT’S AN INVESTMENT IN THEIR FUTURE. THE FOUNDATIONAL BRAIN DEVELOPMENT THAT OCCURS DURING THE EARLY YEARS LAYS THE GROUNDWORK FOR A LIFETIME OF LEARNING AND SUCCESS AT SCHOOL & LIFE. LANGUAGE AND TALKING SKILLS ARE IMPORTANT – AND BEST INSTILLED IN THE EARLY YEARS. DON’T DELAY – EACH DAY IS IMPORTANT. BY ENGAGING IN REGULAR, MEANINGFUL CONVERSATIONS WITH YOUR CHILDREN, YOU ARE NOT ONLY HELPING THEM DEVELOP ESSENTIAL SKILLS BUT ALSO CREATING A STRONG AND LASTING BOND THAT WILL BENEFIT BOTH OF YOU FOR YEARS TO COME. SO, MAKE THE EFFORT TO TALK, LISTEN, AND CONNECT WITH YOUR KIDS EVERY DAY – IT’S ONE OF THE MOST VALUABLE GIFTS YOU CAN GIVE THEM.
The best school near me is usually a smaller neighborhood exclusive school!
The best learning campuses globally are never part of big chains! however manufacturing factories are …. which we don’t really want for our future leaders of society – right?
THE SIXTH ELEMENT SCHOOL WE BELIEVE IN THE IMPORTANCE OF CATALYSING & ENSURING “THE SIXTH ELEMENT -i.e. THE JOY OF LEARNING” FOR EVERY CHILD. OUR CURRICULAM IS BENCHMARKED WITH THE BEST INTERNATIONALLY, WHILE DRAWING FROM OUR VERY OWN CORE ANCIENT INDIAN BEST PRACTICES SUCH AS THE GURU SHISHYA PARAMPARA) & VALUES. THANKS TO ITS 18+ YEARS EXPERIENCE AND ITS CORE CHILD DEVELOPMENT PRACTICES DRAWN FROM PIAGET, VYGOSTKY AND BRUNER – WHICH IS INCIDENTALLY THE RESOURCE POOL – FOR THE FOUNDATIONAL YEARS SCHOOL CURRICULUM OF THE UPGRADED NEW EDUCATION (NEP) UNDER ROLL OUT IN INDIA NOW.
WE ARE ALSO IN THE PROCESS OF GETTING CAMBRIDGE CURRICULAM CERTIFICATION TO ENABLE OUR CHILDREN TO EVOLVE GLOBALLY AS WELL AS DO WELL IN INDIA
the Sixth Element School
the school children love
SOUTH CITY 1. TATA PRIMANTI (sector 72)
85272-74695 or 97736-32626
since 2004(18+years)
limited enrolment available in pre-NURSERY, NURSERY, KG & DAYCARE, grade 1 in 2023
@ Gurgaon’s only single section “exclusive” boutique VENTILATED, AIRY, SPACIOUS. GREEN SCHOOL CAMPUSES