Want to know if your baby is going to grow up super smart? Learn about the signs of an intelligent baby here.
What can you read in this article?
- Physical signs of an intelligent baby
- Are kids who are creative also smart?
- Tips on how to nurture your baby's intelligence
All parents love to know that their baby is super clever. But what you may not know is that there are certain signs of an intelligent baby—exceptionally so—that you can nurture, so that your little one reaches their full genius baby potential!
The trick is to know what these early signs of an intelligent baby are, so that you can draw them out and watch your baby shine.
Signs of an intelligent baby to know and nurture
1. Hits milestones earlier than other babies their age
You might know those baby developmental milestones are a significant way of telling if your little one is on track with their physical, cognitive, and emotional growth.
However, if your baby is hitting these milestones way earlier than their peers, then this could be one of the signs of an intelligent baby. For example, your three-month-old is already sitting up alone. Or your 10-month-old speaks clear, perfect sentences.
Pro tip: Read and talk to your baby to further develop their communication skills. Give them plenty of encouragement and praise when they "show" you what they can do!
2. Has very good focus
Babies and young children are notorious for their short attention spans -- give or take 15 minutes and off they go on another quest. However, one of the signs of an intelligent child is that they can focus on a task for long periods at a very early age, usually before six months old.
For example, you might see your highly intelligent five-month-old focusing intently on playing with wooden blocks without getting distracted. Or he/ she might sit with you as you read a whole book, even pointing at their favorite images or turning the page.
Pro tip: Continue to encourage play with toys like blocks and puzzles. Try giving your little one big, colorful floor puzzles to stimulate and encourage their focus. And as always, keep reading to them!
3. Likes solving problems
If your little one displays signs of an intelligent baby, then don't expect him or her to ever give up easily! That's right -- along with extreme focus, such babies are gifted with exceptional problem-solving skills.
If, for example, you've kept their favorite snacks tucked away in a cupboard, your little one is likely to figure out a clever way of reaching these goodies. Queue box stacked on toy truck!
And while all children do display problem-solving skills in keeping with developmental milestones, an exceptionally advanced child will show these skills much earlier than their peers.
Pro tip: In order to encourage your little one's natural problem-solving skills, set them easy "challenges". For example, you could create a mini-maze out of pillows or bolsters and place a toy in the middle. Then cheer your baby on as they navigate their way through this maze to find the toy.
4. Enjoys (even prefers) solitude
We know that children are sociable little humans and often rarely want to be left alone. However, one of the signs of an intelligent baby is that they often prefer to be alone.
You'll notice them very happily playing on their own. Or they might actually prefer the company of older kids rather than that of their peers, for slightly more advanced emotional and intellectual stimulation. Hello, tiny genius!
Pro tip: Remember not to push your little one into the company of other kids, if they do not like this. But at the same time, you could encourage your baby to play alongside his or her peers, so that social skill development is not neglected.
5. Extremely curious
Yes, children can be curious little things. But one of the signs of an intelligent baby (exceptionally so) is that their questions are exceptional too. Their questions could be so complex that they could even stump you, sending you on a quest to the library or Google to find the answer.
Pro tip: The zillions of questions might be annoying, but do try to provide correct answers nevertheless. At the same time, provide your highly curious, highly intelligent child with the resources to find their own answers, such as a junior encyclopedia or library membership. Do join in on their journey of learning too. One is never too old for new knowledge!
6. High birth weight
It sounds strange but it's true—studies show there is a correlation between a child's birth weight and their intelligence.
Researchers discovered that higher birth weights equated with slightly higher IQ throughout life. You can read the full Pediatrics study here. Meanwhile, continue to nurture your baby's brain with breast milk until they reach six months of age, and with brain foods like avocado and fish once they start solids.
Pro tip: Pregnant moms, if you are reading this, the best way of ensuring that your baby's birth weight is good, is to eat a proper balanced diet when you're pregnant.
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7. Alertness
One of the earliest signs of an intelligent baby is a high level of alertness. Such babies are also very aware of their environments and loved ones, quickly recognizing and bonding with family members. They'll make eye contact with you very early on and reward you with a smile or other signs of recognition, like cooing, or waving their fists.
Pro tip: Your baby's high level of alertness might also mean they're harder to put to sleep due to environmental stimuli. Address this by providing your baby with a calm, dark and secure sleeping environment. Try using white noise and a bedtime routine (feed, bath, story, sleep) to calm your super-alert little one right down.
How to really nurture your baby's intelligence
Whether your baby is displaying these signs or not, there are still things we can do to nurture our baby's intelligence and raise a smarter child. But do you really have to buy expensive toys or enroll them in advanced classes to do so? Not really.
According to an article in Parenting Science, the following things can help you raise a smart kid, according to research:
- Regular exercise - studies suggest that aerobic exercise stimulates brain growth and enhances our ability to learn. It can also improve a child's attention span.
- Play - according to Maria Montessori, "Play is the work of a child." Free play has a lot of cognitive benefits including the development of language, reasoning and mathematical skills.
- Adequate rest - the quality of sleep during childhood is also connected to a child's cognitive performance. So however tempting it is to let them stay up late all the time, think of what will be best for your baby's body and mind in the long run.
- Using hand gestures - research shows that kids are more likely to remember words, events, and even math lessons when they gesture with their hands. So why not model it to them and be more animated when talking to them?
- Parental attachment and security - some studies suggest that responsive parenting—which promotes secure attachments—contributes to higher cognitive ability. So give your child the attachment and security he needs by making time to play with him and responding to his needs.
So there you have it, moms and dads. Are you raising a tiny genius too? Share with us the amazing things your little Einstein does!
Additional information from Camille Eusebio
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