Babies' cognitive development is affected by a number of factors. Though many parents believe that their children were predestined by genes or personality to have a particular intelligence level, cognitive development is much more complicated than this. Stimulating environments, high-quality nutrition and parental involvement all strongly affect a child's brain development.
Uterine Environment
The uterine environment of a developing fetus strongly affects her future cognitive development. According to molecular geneticist Dan Agin, exposure to toxic chemicals, certain foods and maternal stress can permanently alter a developing fetus's cognitive development. Children whose mothers smoke, eat unhealthy foods or who experience stress and trauma during pregnancy are all at increased risk of developmental delays and birth defects. Conversely, children whose mothers eat a healthy diet, engage in moderate exercise and are calm and happy during pregnancy are more likely to have normal, healthy cognitive development, according to neurologist Lise Eliot.
Illness
Early childhood illness can negatively impact a child's cognitive development. Frequent visits to the doctor, time spent in the neonatal intensive care unit and restrictive environments may all be necessary for unhealthy children. However, these early experiences limit a child's ability to interact with her environment. Early learning and a stimulating environment are strongly correlated with cognitive development, according to "Child Psychology."
Early Experiences
The quality of a child's environment is likely the best predictor of her cognitive development and adult IQ, according to "Child Psychology." Children whose parents speak frequently to them, for example, learn to speak more quickly. Exposure to books, reading, music and math all increase a child's likelihood of later competence in these pursuits. Parents interested in increasing their child's development should expose them to novel stimuli, read to them frequently and talk to them about daily interactions even before they can talk. The American Academy of Pediatrics advises that exposure to television in children under 2-years-old can negatively impact cognitive development.
Genetics
Many parents place a heavy emphasis on the way genetics affect their children. However, according to Agin, genetics generally have much less of an impact than parents may suspect. A child's genes set the upper and lower limits for cognitive development, and the rest is determine by the child's environment, according to Eliot. Children with genetic conditions such as Down Syndrome may have to work harder to excel and may not be able to do all of the things other children do. However, when provided with a nurturing environment, these children may achieve much more than other children with similar conditions.
Nutrition
Early nutrition, including during pregnancy, is correlated with later IQ, according to Eliot. Children who are chronically malnourished exhibit slower brain development and more cognitive difficulties. Breastfeeding is also strongly correlated with cognitive development, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics. Children whose mothers breastfed them during the first 6 months of life have higher IQs on average than children who were not breastfed.
References
- "What's Going On In There?"; Lise Eliot; 2000
- "Child Psychology: Development in a Changing Society"; Robin Harwood, et al.; 2008
- "Caring For Your Baby and Young Child"; American Academy of Pediatrics; 2009
- "More Than Genes"; Dan Agin; 2009
