Every parent certainly wants the best for their baby's development and growth. One of the concerns is identifying the characteristics that indicate moms and dads' baby has the potential for high intelligence. Here, we will discuss 10 characteristics of intelligent babies that can be recognized early on.
Characteristics of Smart and Genius Babies
Intelligent babies are usually able to express their emotions well, both verbally and non-verbally. They may be able to show empathy towards others and react appropriately to emotional situations.
Intelligent babies also tend to be more independent and can entertain themselves for short periods. They may show the ability to play or explore their environment without relying too much on adults.
In addition, the characteristics of an intelligent baby can be seen from the following:
1. Quickly learn and understand new concepts
Intelligent babies tend to be quicker at understanding and absorbing new information. Research from the University of Washington Institute for Learning & Brain Sciences (I-LABS) shows that babies' brains develop very quickly in the first 1,000 days of life, so babies who are frequently interacted with will process information more quickly.
2. Having a strong memory
A baby's ability to remember events or faces is known as recognition memory. According to Dr. Patricia Kuhl, a child neuroscientist, 6-month-old babies can already recognize the voices and faces of those closest to them, and show consistent responses when remembering certain experiences.
3. Being highly curious
Intelligent babies usually have a great curiosity about their environment. This is in line with the opinion of the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) that babies who show a high interest in new things tend to have good intelligence potential.
4. Likes to play with educational toys
Intelligent babies tend to be more interested in toys that stimulate their cognitive and motor development. Exploratory toys encourage brain growth, as recommended by Zero to Three, an early childhood development organization in the US.
5. Able to solve simple problems
According to Jean Piaget, a child development psychologist, babies begin to demonstrate problem-solving skills from the age of 8–12 months through simple experiments, such as trying to retrieve hidden toys or opening toy bottle caps.
6. Able to communicate well
Even though babies cannot yet speak verbally, intelligent babies can use body language, facial expressions, and sounds to communicate. Dr. Laura Jana, a pediatrician and author of The Toddler Brain, explains that early communication in babies is an important indicator of social-emotional development.
7. Have good focus and concentration
Focus and concentration are part of the brain's executive functions. In the journal Frontiers in Psychology, it is mentioned that babies who can concentrate longer on a single object or game tend to have faster cognitive development.
8. Friendly and sociable
Social intelligence in infants is also an important characteristic. Infants who are able to read facial expressions and respond to smiles or sounds show early empathy, according to the Harvard Center on the Developing Child.
9. Enjoys interacting with others
Intelligent babies usually enjoy social interaction and will seek attention and contact with people around them. This interaction is important for the development of their social brain, as explained in research by Dr. Alison Gopnik from the University of California, Berkeley.
10. Able to follow rules and instructions
Intelligent babies can demonstrate the ability to follow simple rules and instructions. This is related to executive functioning, which begins to develop in the first year of life and improves rapidly in the early years.
Recognizing the characteristics of an intelligent baby early on can help parents provide appropriate stimulation and support for their child's development. However, it is important to remember that each baby develops at their own pace, and not all of the above characteristics need to be present in every intelligent baby.
The most important thing is to provide a supportive and loving environment to help moms and dads' babies reach their best potential. One crucial aspect of supporting the little one's exploration process is providing comfort in daily activities.
For this reason, moms and dads must provide diapers that are not only absorbent but also soft and thin. In addition to SAP Diapers, MAKUKU Slim can also be a premium diaper option that provides extra comfort. With a super thin design and technology that helps prevent irritation, MAKUKU Slim allows babies to move freely while exploring without discomfort. MAKUKU diapers: thinner and more comfortable!
