Moms and dads who want to boost brain development in children rejoice! A new study has found that being a supportive parent, especially for moms, can help encourage healthy brain development in your children.
Reassurance and support helps brain development
According to researchers from the Washington University School of Medicine, being a supportive parent can help boost brain development in children.
Joan L. Luby, MD shares, "Parental support, particularly in early childhood, is a very, very powerful force in a child’s life. It's a very positive, powerful force."
In their research, they tracked the mental development of 92 children from their preschool up until their grade school years and found that the children who were provided constant reassurance and support by their parents, particularly their mothers, had more developed brains compared to their counterparts.
Ian H. Gotlib, PhD, professor of psychology at Stanford University shares, "What maternal support is doing in the kids who are not depressed is reducing their exposure to stressors, which is helping them. It’s reducing the impact of stress."
There's nothing wrong with being supportive
Based on the results of the study, it's clear that parental support plays a large role when it comes to a child's development.
There's nothing wrong or bad about being a supportive parent. In fact, it can even boost not just your child's brain development but also improve your relationship as a family.
Try to be more encouraging of your child, support their interests, and show that you're always behind them in all of their pursuits. The important thing is that your child knows that you approve and respect their decisions, and that no matter what happens, you'll always be there for them.
Source: webmd.com
READ: Teaching your kids to care for pets can help their development
