It’s difficult to imagine how a baby experiences the world around him, what he is thinking and feeling. Babies are constantly surrounded by new impressions, which they must process and interpret. They listen for familiar voices, turn their heads to look for familiar faces and enjoy being rocked or held. The remarkable number of new connections (synapses) being formed in an infant’s brain enables him to process large quantities of information.
What exactly is learning?
Learning is not necessarily just knowing something; it’s the ability to interpret or understand something through experience. So when your baby takes in new information, he is able to use that learned information in subsequent situations.
What does intelligence have to do with it?
The ability to learn is affected not only by environment but also by hereditary and genetic factors. We now know that intelligence isn’t just one particular ability, but many: motor skills, memory, concentration and social skills are all factors in intelligence.
Types of Learning:
• Making predictions
When a child hears footsteps approaching, he quickly learns that a face will soon appear. Babies can learn this as early as age one or two months. To help your baby learn in this way, you should be as consistent as possible. Always respond in the same way when your child gives you a certain signal. By creating routines, we help children plan, understand and make sense of things.
• I can do it!
One of the most satisfying ways of learning for newborns is discovering that the same action always causes the same reaction. When your baby first kicks a mobile, for example, he probably does it by accident. But pretty soon he realizes that by kicking the mobile, he makes a toy jingle or rattle, and in the process, he’s learned that by moving in a particular way, he can control his environment.
• Imitation
Imitation requires a number of abilities: the ability to perceive someone else’s action, choose to repeat it and then coordinate the motor skills to perform the action. Imitation also requires social skills: When baby copies you, he realizes that he can interact in a new way.
• Self-image
There’s a correlation between the amount of attention and physical contact a baby receives and his intellectual development. Studies show that 12-week-old babies who receive a lot of physical contact are more curious and more interested in exploring new objects. It’s through this kind of interaction that babies learn a sense of “me” — having positive interactions helps him develop a positive self-image.
• Exploration
Baby-proofing your home early on has advantages beyond simply keeping your little one safe: It can also help them learn and grow. If a child is consistently forbidden from exploring his surroundings, a certain form of learning is stunted. Of course, this doesn’t mean that babies should have access to everything they can lay their hands on, but rather that the environment should be adapted so that they can safely explore.
• Interaction
The most important form of learning happens when babies interact with their parents. Face-to-face contact in the first months of life help children learn about their surroundings, show what they can do and win praise for mastering new skills.
Babies remember their experiences, both good and bad. These experiences form a basis for how they perceive a situation or person. Reciprocity is key; as baby practices taking the initiative, he shows that he understands others’ initiatives to play. He can show that he wants to focus toward a particular object by reaching for or pointing to it.
Talking with your baby is another key form of interaction. Research has also shown that children who get a quick response when they smile, cry or use their voice score better in intelligence tests later on in life.
• Instruction and demonstration
Playing together allows you to give instruction and demonstrate how things work, which are both effective ways of teaching. Demonstration in particular can be a great way to spur your child’s learning, as he sees how to perform a task or solve a problem.
• Creating connections
Each child is a unique person who needs opportunities and challenges appropriate to his level and development. If your child shows an interest in a new activity, he’s probably ready for it. If you try something new and he’s not at all interested, you’re probably introducing it either too early or too late.
General advice:
Remember to encourage your child whenever he demonstrates that he’s learned something new — or is trying to learn something new. It’s a source of pride that your child is willing and able to learn, and also that he feels secure enough to trust his own abilities.