First 1000 days which starts right from conception plays a very significant role in your babies life! This is when their brain goes through rapid growth & development. This is the time when they start knowing the world!!!
It’s our duty as a parent to make their surroundings filled with positive energy and loving interaction!!
Cause this is when they are going to develop their social skills, emotions,language, learn to interact with new people & new environment!
According to the campaign #EarlyMomentsMatter by UNICEF, early brain development depends on these 3 elements
• Nutrition
• Protection
• Stimulation
Nutrition
In early childhood your kid needs proper nutrition.Make sure you are giving them enough amount of protein, fatty acids and micronutrients such as zinc, calcium, iron, iodine and more which plays very important roles in Brain Development.
Before 6 month when baby is on breast feed make sure mother is eating healthy and rich food.
If a child is not getting enough nutrients, this may result into Severe Acute Malnutrition (SAM).
Undernourished child may not have enough energy to explore and play. This May result into getting irritated and getting infected or ill more often. They could be very picky eaters and if lack of nutrition is going on for longer period, they may lose and show no interest in food.
Protection
Kids need protection in many ways like from increasing Air pollution. At this stage their lungs are not developed fully, make sure you are taking them some where, where they can breathe fresh air time to time!
Protecting them from Negative experiences which can scar them for life. Making sure you have good & nurturing environment at home.
Abuse & Neglecting a child can lead to some serious conditions & can affect their developing brain for life!
Stimulation
Playing with your child and baby talk may sound silly but it plays an important role in brain development. Specially pretend plays, they actually help your child to have a positive view for the world which is waiting out there!
Talk to your child as much as possible, this will help them develop their language and they will start recognizing things, colors and shapes around them.
Keep in mind that an individual learns better by experiencing things rather than by just telling or giving instructions! Show them get involved. When they are trying to tell you something by their actions respond to them!
Meal time is very important for a child and Responsive Feeding can help you with all three elements above. For more details check my blog Responsive Feeding And It’s Benefits.
Source
- Early childhood development (UNICEF)
- Giving Children the Best Start in Life: Integrating Nutrition and Early Childhood Development Programming within the First 1,000 Days (USAID, FANTA , Fhi360)
Kool Parenting 