Providing early stimulation, the key to smart and talented children

Did you know that smart children come from smart parents? Yes, your child's intelligence can be influenced by the intelligence of their parents. According to a pediatrician in Indonesia, dr. Soedjatmiko, Sp.A (K), Msi, the intelligence of a child is influenced by two interrelated factors, namely heredity and environmental factors.

A child who has smart parents will also be a smart child if it is supported by adequate environmental factors, for example formal education in schools. Fulfillment of a child's basic needs such as physical and biological needs, affection, and early stimulation are also very influential.

Of course, these three basic needs must be provided and met from infancy until later they grow up to be children. Then what exactly is early stimulation like? What early stimulation can parents provide to improve children's intelligence? Let's look at the discussion below.

Benefits of early stimulation

Early stimulation is stimulation that is performed from a newborn (preferably from the age of six months of the fetus) to stimulate all sensory systems (hearing, sight, touch, smell, and taste). Early stimulation should be done every day.

The continuous stimulation from birth can spur children's intelligence in various aspects. Starting from mathematical logic, emotional maturity, communication and language skills, musical intelligence, movement, visual arts, and others.

The results of research conducted by Joshua Jeong and his colleagues revealed that stimulation provided by parents can improve children's development.

What is the right early stimulation for smart children?

Early stimulation for each child is different, depending on their age. Following are the stimulations that can be given to your child according to their age.

0-3 months of age

• Make it comfortable, safe, and fun for the baby. For example, by hugging, holding, looking into the baby's eyes.
• Encourage the baby to smile, talk.
• Take turns playing various sounds or music.
• Hanging and moving brightly colored objects in front of the baby.
• Roll the baby right and left.
• Encourage the baby to be on his stomach and on his back.
• Stimulate the baby to reach and hold the toy.

3-6 months old

• Playing peekaboo.
• Looking at the baby's face in the mirror.
• Encourage the baby to be on his stomach, on his back and forth, and to sit up.

6-9 months old

• Calling a baby's name.
• Inviting babies to shake hands and clap.
• Read a story book.
• Stimulate the baby to sit.
• Train the baby to stand by holding on.

9-12 months old

• Repeatedly mentioning the calls of parents and people around them such as, "Daddy", "Mother", or "Brother".
• Put the toys in the container.
• Get the baby to drink from a glass.
• Roll the ball.
• Train the baby to stand and walk holding on.

Age 12-18 months

• Practice scribbling using colored pencils.
• Arrange cubes, blocks and puzzles.
• Insert and remove small objects from the container.
• Play with dolls, toy cars, and houses.
• Practice walking without holding on, walking backwards, climbing stairs, kicking a ball, removing pants
• Encourage baby to understand and carry out simple commands (e.g. hold this, enter this, take that)
• Mention names or denote objects.

Age 18-24 months

• Ask, name, and show body parts.
• Ask for pictures or name animals and objects around the house.
• Invite to talk about daily activities.
• Line drawing practice.
• Washing hands.
• Wear pants and clothes.
• Play throwing the ball and jumping.

2-3 years old

• Recognizing and mentioning colors.
• Use adjectives and name friends.
• Count objects.
• Putting on clothes.
• Brushing teeth.
• Playing cards, dolls, or cooking.
• Draw a line, circle, or human.
• Exercise standing on one leg (balance).
• Learn to pee or defecate on the toilet.

Toddler

Stimulation is aimed at school readiness such as holding a pencil, writing, recognizing letters and numbers, simple counting, understanding simple commands, and independence (for example when left at school), sharing with friends, and others.

When was the stimulation given?

Stimulation should be done whenever there is an opportunity to interact with a baby or toddler. Of course you can do this at any time, for example when bathing the baby, changing diapers, breastfeeding, feeding food, and so on.

Stimulation so that smart children must be provided in a pleasant atmosphere. Do not rush and force stimulation. Don't force your will, for example when the baby is trying to play something else. Negative emotional stimuli such as being angry or bored will be remembered by the child, causing fear in your child. In order for children to be smart and develop well, provide early stimulation with love and joy.

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