From an early age, children's brains are programmed to learn, unconsciously soaking up sensory impressions from the world around them like a sponge. However, research into brain development has shown that neural pathways are only strengthened in those areas of the brain that are stimulated. So while learning new things, mastering new skills and honing the brain's abilities is almost effortless for your child, this development does require encouragement. Passing up the opportunity to teach skills in the first few formative years will result in a longer learning period later on, as evidenced by the difficulty many adults have learning a new language or to play an instrument. How can you maximize this crucial learning stage? Try these five ways to spark their interest: Language: Don't use baby talk with your child. Be thoughtful about what you say and try to teach them the correct names for everything around them. A strong vocabulary is a key element in the formation of a child's intellig
