Every parent wants to see their children grow up healthy, active and smart.
Well, one of the important keys in supporting children’s growth and development is to provide the right stimulation early on.
But what exactly is stimulation? Why is it so important and what activities can be done at home?
In this article, we will discuss thoroughly from the definition of stimulation, examples of activities that can be done with children, to the extraordinary benefits that can be obtained if this stimulation is done consistently.
Let’s take a look at it together!
What is Stimulation?
Stimulation, in the context of child development, is any form of stimulation given intentionally to support your child’s development in various aspects.
So, it’s not just a matter of playing around, but rather an activity that has a specific purpose to trigger a child’s response or reaction, both physically and mentally.
For example, when you invite your children to play cilukba, it not only makes them laugh, but also trains their social and emotional skills.
Or when children are invited to listen to songs and imitate the movements, it is already a stimulation for their language, gross motor, and even cognitive development.
In essence, stimulation is a “signal” that is sent to the child’s brain so that the brain cells are more active and connected to each other.
Well, this stimulation is very important because it covers various aspects of development-from physical (such as body movements), cognitive (how to think and solve problems), language (speech and understanding words), social-emotional (how children interact and recognize emotions), to fine and gross motor (such as holding a pencil or running).
In other words, proper stimulation can be an important foundation for a child’s future.
When should children be stimulated?
Many parents are still confused, “Actually, from what age should children start to be stimulated?”
The answer: as early as possible! Even as early as newborns, mild stimulation can be started.
Don’t wait for your child to sit up, crawl, or talk first-because every moment since the day they were born is a golden opportunity to help their brain develop.
For example, gently touching your baby’s skin, having a conversation while looking into their eyes, or listening to soft sounds such as classical music or nature sounds-these are all forms of early stimulation that can help build connections in their brain.
Well, the most crucial period in child development is called the golden age, which is the age of 0 to 5 years.
It is during this period that a child’s brain develops super fast and absorbs information like a sponge.
So, proper stimulation during this period can have a huge impact on their future growth and development-both in terms of intelligence, social skills, and other basic skills.
Hence, it is very important for parents or caregivers to make the most of this time.
It doesn’t always have to be expensive toys or complicated activities – just routine, loving, and age-appropriate.
Types of Stimulation Activities Based on Age
1. Age 0-6 months
At this age, stimulation focuses on emotional bonding and sensory stimulation.
It is enough to look into the baby’s eyes often, smile, talk in a soft voice, and do tummy time to exercise his neck and back muscles.
2. 6-12 months old
Start introducing games that provoke reactions, such as cilukba.
Give him brightly colored toys, listen to music, or simple sounds to sharpen his sense of hearing and vision.
3. 1-3 years old
The child is active and curious.
Invite them to play with blocks, name objects around them, read picture books, or simple role-play like pretending to cook or shop.
Fun and learning at the same time!
Benefits of Stimulation for Children
Providing early stimulation not only keeps children active, but also has many long-term benefits. Some of them are:
1. Develops intelligence and speech
The right stimulation can help children think faster, recognize more words, and learn to communicate what they feel.
The more you talk to them or read them stories, the better their communication skills will become.
2. Increase self-confidence and sociability
Through play or joint activities, children learn to try new things and get used to interacting.
This makes them more confident and comfortable when meeting other people.
3. Preparing children for school age
Children who are used to being stimulated tend to be better prepared when they start preschool or kindergarten.
They already have the basic cognitive, motor and social skills that are important to support their learning process later.
Conclusion
Stimulation plays a big role in supporting children’s growth and development.
From newborn to age 5 – known as the golden age– childrenneed to be given various age-appropriate stimuli.
It doesn’t have to be complicated, sometimes something as simple as a look in the eye, a smile, or an invitation to play can have a tremendous impact on the development of his brain and personality.
With regular and loving stimulation, children can grow up to be smart, confident, and ready to face the world-especially when entering school age.
So, let’s take advantage of this precious time by providing the right stimulation and fun for your little one!
