If you observe how your baby interacts with his world and applies new knowledge on a daily basis, you have an idea of how significant his first years are when it comes to intellectual development. The reality is astounding. According to BabyCenter online, your baby's brain will triple its weight and create about 1,000 trillion nerve connections in his first three years of life. Recognizing your baby's developmental milestones as he grows will help you foster his budding intellect.
Comprehension
Your baby will go from not comprehending language to having a solid grasp of her native tongue by her second birthday. Although she may not speak coherently until she is well into her first or second year, she is rapidly comprehending ideas and the rules of human behavior, communication and language. Newborns are able to pick up on emotions such as anger and happiness, and the average four-month-old baby recognizes her name. In late infancy and early toddlerhood, she will be able to understand basic requests such as, "Don't touch that," although obeying them is a different story.
Language
You may observe your baby's initial awareness of language when he begins to practice making sounds such as "ooh" and "ahh" in his first two months, according to BabyCenter. Those sounds soon turn into babbling, and as early as four to five months of age, you may hear him use words such as "mama." After that, your baby will begin the process of soaking up other words from people around him. By the time he is two he may be able to speak in two or three word sentences, and by age three he can use hundreds of words.
Exploration
Since babies learn by exploring the world, their physical development is closely intertwined with their intellectual development. Babies develop many physical abilities in their first year. For example, between one and six months of age, babies are able to turn their bodies to locate sources of sounds, explore objects by putting them into their mouths and study their hands and feet, according to the University of Illinois Extension online. Between 6 and 12 months of age, they have developed the capacity to play pat-a-cake and use their motor skills to play pretend with familiar objects such as a phone.
Socialization
Although your baby will interact with her caregivers from the beginning, she will likely spend her first year fine-tuning individual skills such as sitting up and walking. She will begin to interact with other children when she is about two years old, says Baby Center, but she will need to spend some time working on her social skills. By the time she is three years old, she will have a better ability to empathize, which will make her a better sharer and improve her chances of making friends with other tots. While many children with social delays grow to be normal and healthy, the American Pregnancy Association (APA) notes that a social delay could indicate a problem with hearing or vision, or a problem with intellectual or emotional development.
Encouraging Development
The American Academy of Pediatrics offers suggestions that can help you encourage your baby's intellectual development. Some examples include constantly playing with, talking, singing, and reading to your baby; speaking at home in a second language if you have one; being responsive and loving; being consistent; choosing a quality day care and staying involved in your baby's life.
