Have you ever heard the saying: the brain is like a muscle? Well, like any muscle in the human body, your child’s growing brain needs plenty of stimulation! If you’re looking for ways to help young thinkers level up in their cognitive and critical thinking abilities, here are three key tips you shouldn’t miss:
1. Get plenty of exercise – and sleep
The mind is made to move – and so are your kids! Research shows that physical activity helps to produce a series of positive effects on brain development, improving cognitive function, social-emotional abilities, and psychological well-being.
Children between the ages of 3 to 5 years old should be physically active throughout the day for growth and development, and those aged 6 to 17 years old need 60 minutes or more of moderate-to-vigorous intensity physical activity each day.
But don’t forget to catch those ZZZs too! Sleep is crucial for your child’s brain health, and young growing minds need adequate amounts of sleep to stay alert, healthy and happy.
2. Ask open-ended questions
We all want our kids to grow up as creative thinkers, don’t we? The next time your child faces a problem, instead of supplying them with the answer, encourage them to consider all the possible evidence and arguments at hand. Try asking the following questions to prompt reflection, reasoning and independent analysis:
- What do you think happened?
- What might have caused it?
- What makes you say this?
- What do you think would happen if you did this?
- What do you like or dislike about these possible solutions?
Open-ended questions that go beyond a mere ‘yes’ or ‘no’ will help your kids think out-of-the-box and work out the answer logically for themselves, rather than simply accepting things at face value.
Plus, spending the time in conversation with your child not only improves their brain function; it also helps to secure your relationship with them and build a deeper sense of connection, as you learn about the world together.
3. Foster healthy competition
So much of learning takes place through play – and brain-training games make for a great family-friendly time of bonding! From jigsaw and crossword puzzles, to educational apps and beloved classics like UNO, Monopoly or Cluedo, these games help to hone problem-solving, planning and strategising skills, while also teaching kids the value of good sportsmanship.
Spark your child’s sense of healthy competition by taking the time to understand their natural interests; and then find ways of making this both educational and exciting! Are they a whiz with words? A game of Scrabble, which helps to creatively hone vocabulary, might be right up their alley. Or perhaps you have a little strategist on your hands, who might adore a game of chess, or Chinese checkers?
For kids with a mind for mathematics, joining a competition like the Eye Level Math Olympiad 2024, a global challenge that provides a unique platform for young learners to showcase their mathematical and problem-solving abilities, might be the perfect avenue for them to level up their skills!
Participants will have the opportunity to assess their standing against global competitors, receive a detailed analysis of their results to better understand their strengths and weaknesses, and experience the thrill of an international competition – while taking home participation medals, certificates and fun souvenirs (as well as bragging rights, naturally)!
The competition, happening on 23rd November and 24th November 2024, is open to children aged 7 to 15 years old, who are attending public and international schools from Primary 1 to Secondary 2. Registration is open from now until 31st October 2024, at a fee of RM30 for Eye Level members and RM50 for non-members and the general public.
This article is sponsored by Eye Level Malaysia.
If you’re looking to enhance your child’s mathematical skills and foster their love for learning, Eye Level Math’s customised learning approach, engaging teaching methods, and exciting global challenges provide a valuable experience for young learners. For more information on the upcoming Eye Level Math Olympiad 2024 and to register, visit their website.
