7 Lifestyle Habits That Support Your Child’s Brain Health

You want your young one to grow into a happy, healthy adult, and that includes having good mental and physical health. How do you support your child’s brain as well as their body? 

Board-certified pediatric neurologist Dr. Charles Niesen and our team at AMS Neurology in Pasadena, California, provide strategies to create a healthy environment for your child’s brain. 

If your child has ADHD, a learning disorder, Tourette syndrome, cerebral palsy, or autism spectrum disorder, they have special challenges. We help your child maximize their strengths and provide guidance to you, the parent, on how you can optimize their brain health. 

What is brain health? 

Brain health encompasses the cognitive, physical, and emotional aspects of your child’s life. The concept is broad-based. 

It includes your child’s ability to learn, retain, and use information to solve problems, as well as their ability to meet developmental markers, coordinate brain and body movements, regulate emotions and behavior, make social connections, and develop flexibility in an ever-changing environment. 

Put simply, healthy brain development shows up as a child who engages socially, regulates emotions, and meets age‑appropriate cognitive and motor milestones.

Why brain health is so important in your child’s early years 

You may think your child’s brain expands the most between elementary and high school years, but that’s an incorrect assumption. Their brains grow the most between birth and age five, and the first three years are especially important. 

The early years are critical to your child’s brain health. These years lay the foundation for adult mental health. 

Seven lifestyle habits that support your child’s brain health

You, the parent, are the major figure in your child’s life. Your child depends on you to provide an environment conducive to optimal brain health. The following are commonsense guidelines to help ensure your child’s brain health. 

1. Good nutrition

Fast-food restaurants dot the roads you drive every day. The grocery store is full of processed, packaged, unhealthy foods. It may be easy to drop by a fast-food restaurant and get chicken fingers and fries for your child, but it’s not a healthy choice. 

Spend time planning meals to avoid fast food. Keep healthy snacks in your car. You know the adage, “You are what you eat.” Make mealtime fun, social, and healthy. 

2. Adequate sleep 

It may be tempting to take your little one on an outing that stretches beyond naptime or bedtime. Your child’s pituitary gland releases growth hormones while they sleep. 

Let knowing how important sleep is for your growing child curb your impulse to forgo a normal sleep routine. Not getting enough sleep adversely impacts their brain. 

3. Regular exercise 

Regular, active play is essential for your young child. Play is their “work,” as they learn communication, cooperation, and problem-solving skills. Your child’s day should include at least an hour of physical activity. 

4. A toxic-free environment for emotional health 

All parents sometimes disagree and argue, but don’t fight where your child can see or hear you. They need a calm environment in which they feel securely attached to you. 

Your child can develop anxiety, sleep disturbances, emotional dysregulation, and other adverse health effects in a tense environment. 

5. Cognitive stimulation 

Playing with your child stimulates neural connections and attachment. When your baby smiles and coos, respond to them and model two-way communication. Look your baby in the eye and play pat-a-cake. Sing songs, and as your child learns to speak, have them sing along. 

Use picture books and read to your baby. Point out words in the pictures and have them repeat them. As your child develops, choose puzzles, board games, and toys that challenge their brain. 

6. Use professional guidelines for allowing screen time 

It may be tempting to hand your phone to your child while you’re changing their diaper. Instead, use that time to interact. Tickle their stomach or make them laugh by making a silly face. 

There’s no good reason for a child under the age of two to be watching a screen. Follow the guidelines of the American Academy of Pediatrics. 

7. Plan fun experiences for your child 

As a parent, you’re molding a future adult. Ensure your child has playmates as well as a special one-on-one fun time with you. Make your child’s life engaging, fun, and mentally stimulating. 

Introduce them to a variety of experiences and environments, from the beach to the mountains to museums and monuments. 

If your child has a brain-based disorder, call AMS Neurology or book an appointment online today. We can help you provide a supportive, positive environment for your loved one.