How Parents Can Boost Their Child’s Brain Health

Parents at Eaton Arrowsmith Academy often ask me what else they can do outside of school to boost brain plasticity and improve cognitive functioning for their children. I recall one mother named Laura, who had struggled with learning and attention challenges as a child. She was desperate to do everything she could to enhance her children’s cognitive capacities. Her daughter, Anna, was in our program, and given her own struggles years ago in school, Laura decided to enroll in our online program for a school year. As a parent, she struggled with being organized, focusing on goals, and managing the resulting anxiety from these cognitive challenges in her day-to-day life.

Physical Exercise

I told Laura that many activities support brain plasticity and overall cognitive health. Some of these activities could even enhance their time in the Arrowsmith Program. My first recommendation was to ensure that physical exercise was part of their weekly routine as a family. Whether walking, dancing, participating in team sports, hiking, or even cleaning the house, any form of physical exercise that increased heart rate would improve brain health. Physical activity increases the level of Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor (BDNF), which supports neurons in the brain. One can think of BDNF as a fertilizer for brain development, maintenance, and survival.

Reduce Screen Time

Whenever I mention BDNF, parents get very excited about providing opportunities for their children to exercise. With that in mind, I recommend reducing screen time, whether on tablets, cell phones, computers, or TVs. Try to find projects, hobbies, or exercise programs that get children out of the house and away from screens. It is reassuring to see that many private schools and school districts are banning cell phones during the school day. Screen time is not inherently bad; rather, it is the addictive nature of what is shown on screens and how it keeps children from engaging in other important life activities. One of these activities is face-to-face social interaction.

Support Social Interactions

I asked Laura whether Anna had social groups outside of school with which she connected. She noted that this had significantly decreased since the pandemic. I explained that after-school or weekend group activities support brain functions necessary for understanding social language and reading body language. Laura recognized that we were working on Anna’s nonverbal thinking abilities, but it was crucial for her parents to provide social opportunities for her to utilize and further develop the brain functions and networks responsible for social communication success. I suggested that even family game nights would be a terrific idea, as they can also help develop problem-solving abilities.

Engage in Problem-Solving Activities

The problem with most screen time for children is that it often involves passive engagement. This means they are not actively solving problems or using reasoning skills while engaged. I noted to Laura that she could find games that the family could play together that were cognitively challenging. Given that Anna was 14 years old, I mentioned Catan as one option. For example, The Settlers of Catan requires strategic planning, resource management, and negotiation skills. I also recommended MindTrap, which requires logical reasoning, critical thinking, and creativity. Both Catan and MindTrap are social interaction games that provide challenges in nonverbal thinking, which Anna was working on in her Arrowsmith Program. Of course, as a family, they could play Pictionary, which is fabulous for developing communication skills and quick thinking.

Encourage Creative Play

Pictionary is great for encouraging creative play. I advised Laura to also encourage drawing, painting, and building. Anna often avoided these creative opportunities due to her nonverbal thinking challenges. I noted that Anna was improving her nonverbal thinking capacities with the Arrowsmith Program, so reintroducing these options into her life could be beneficial. Several weeks later, Laura asked Anna if she would like to take an after-school class in drawing or painting. Anna quickly declined but then expressed interest in enrolling in a drama class at the local community center. This was certainly a creative play opportunity and would increase her face-to-face social engagement opportunities!

Introduce Music Education

The benefits of music education for brain health and cognitive development are numerous. Several books have been published on this topic, and one I recommend is by Daniel J. Levitin, titled This Is Your Brain on Music: The Science of a Human Obsession. Music education engages a wide variety of cognitive functions, including memory, attention, and problem-solving abilities. Executive functions, such as planning, organization, and mental flexibility, are also engaged. I suggested to Laura that she consider various instruments that are relatively easy to learn and discuss them with Anna. For example, the ukulele has become a popular instrument. The recorder and harmonica are also great options for beginners.

A Growth Mindset Family 

Laura left with this list written down on a piece of paper. The truth was, she had read about many of these ideas but had not implemented them. Being a parent is challenging. Anna had always struggled with school and feared new learning opportunities. The improved cognitive capacities and confidence she was gaining at Eaton Arrowsmith Academy were now opening doors to reintroducing these ideas to Anna.

Finally, I said to Laura the most important belief you can give yourself and family is that abilities and intelligence can be developed through effort, dedication to a task and hard work. I told her she should read Dr. Carol Dweck’s book, Mindset: The New Psychology of Success. The key points in this book are the power of effort, how we learn from failure and how we need to be open to challenges. Model this mindset to her family and she is well on her way to boosting everyone’s brain health!