Grow your kids’ brains

I was listening to a chat that Dr Daniel Amen had with Jay Shetty recently about children’s brains and what parents are doing to keep their kids’ brains sharp or cause serious damage. And a lot of the things that he said resonates with me. I have shared some of them here. None of the things that he mentioned were rocket science; they were everyday things that we can build into our routine if we are intentional about it.

Here are some of the things he talked about;

• Feed your kids food items that are healthy for their brain development. The way we have foods that are good for the body, we have those that are good for the brain. Include those in your menu.

• Ensure your kids get adequate sleep. Sleep is very crucial for good brain function. Get your kids on a bed time routine.

• Play with your kids. Play games that probe into the curiosity of your kids. Find brain stimulating games that you can play together and you all have fun.

• Less screen time. More physical and creative activities.

• Do not attempt to solve all your kids' problems for them. Give them the opportunity to come up with solutions for themselves while you guide them through the process. 

• Kids need routine. Discipline shows that you are interested in what they do. Get your kids on a routine and teach them to be disciplined.

• Be grounded in values and divinity. Your kids need to understand that there are some lines that should not be crossed (values) and there are some things in the universe that cannot be explained (divinity).

• Trust your kids to do the right things and they will. If you expect only the bad things from them, that’s what you will see.

There are so many other things to learn from the conversation, but I think these few ones would refresh your memory and better help you be intentional about your kids. I think it would also be good for you as well.