There are a lot of skills to be obtained in the world. These skills can be developed through training and practice. This includes cognitive skills. What are cognitive skills? Cognitive skills are the core skills used by the brain to think, read, learn, memorise, judge, and focus. Cognitive skills are divided into seven categories;
- Attention
- Working memory
- Processing speed
- Visual processing
- Logic and reasoning
- Long-term memory
- Auditory processing
All of these skills reflect a different method a brain uses to effectively interpret and use information. These cognitive skills are often used together to absorb incoming information and retain it in the brain as the knowledge that can be used in the future. Not only are these skills important to adults, but they are also important to children. By exposing children to cognitive development since early childhood, they will have little trouble getting through life. These children will encounter lesser trouble in learning and often are better in academic achievement compared to those who do not have cognitive development in early childhood.
HOW TO IMPROVE COGNITIVE DEVELOPMENT IN EARLY CHILDHOOD
Since cognitive skills are important in life, they need to be nurtured from early childhood. Parents can take the first steps in exposing these skills to their children. However, it is understandable for parents to be busy and sometimes might even neglect their children’s needs to grow. That is where the cognitive development learning centre comes into place.
Cognitive development learning centres will take the responsibility to educate children in gaining proper cognitive skills. They will use relevant cognitive strategies that can fit children. This learning strategy includes repetition, learning a new language, communication, summarising and guessing meaning from context, and using textual and imagery for memorisation. For them to practise cognitive skills, parents or teachers can come up with interesting activities that will help children to strengthen their skills. Here are some activities that are simple yet effective for cognitive development;
Alphabet Practice
Before teaching how to read and write, learning the alphabet should always come first. Parents and teachers can use Alphabet Songs, alphabet books reading, and alphabet puzzles to teach children about the alphabet. They will learn to memorise and recognise the alphabet easily and identify what sound an alphabet is.
Noise and Sounds Identification
Help the children identify noises and sounds that they hear throughout the day. It can be the chirping of the birds, running water, the sounds of leaves when the wind is blowing, or a car horn. This can help them understand how sounds are related to the objects in their daily environment.
Count and Number Practice
Teach children about numbers from their early childhood. Help them identify numbers by showing numbers and asking them to say what number it is. Take the opportunity to practise counting in their everyday lives. Count how many shoes there are in the shoe rack, and figure out how many tires are there on cars and lorries.
Ask Questions and Offer Choices
Children who are given the power to choose have higher confidence and are a lot more independent. Allow them to pick one or the other when playing, choosing clothes, or eating. By asking questions, children can learn decision-making and problem-solving while understanding how their choices and answers can affect their day.
Sing-alongs
Choose appropriate songs to sing along with your children. Play these songs in the car when commuting and encourage them to sing along. This can help children to learn new vocabulary and promote memory, and word identification. It would be better if you can explain what certain words mean and how they should be used in context if the children ask about it.
Visits to Interesting Places
Children learn better through experience. Take trips to children’s museums, libraries , or markets to experience real-life situations and stimulate their curiosity. Ask them questions while exploring and observe their responses and reactions. Not only will it be a learning experience for the children, but you can also benefit from these visits.
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