How to Boost a Child's IQ

Experts say it is possible to boost a child's Intelligence Quotient (IQ) by doing certain things. There are a number of factors that play into intelligence, and there are a number of things that can be done to improve the IQ during pregnancy and the early, formative years. Here is how to boost a child's IQ.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

1. Insure your unborn child has the best environment possible by starting during pregnancy. Take choline supplements to encourage fetal brain development. Ensure that your own thyroid is functioning properly, gain the appropriate amount of weight during pregnancy and include more than 340 grams per week of fish or seafood while pregnant all impact your child's IQ.
2. Understand the importance of breastfeeding. Statistics show that breastfed babies have significantly higher IQ scores.
3. Introduce your child to the game of chess. It teaches the child to look at problems from various angles and learn there are numerous approaches to following and solving a problem. The brain becomes more flexible with strategy games.
4. Boost your child's overall IQ scores by having a family pet. The stronger the child's relationship and involvement with a pet dog or cat actually raises the IQ by stimulating cognitive development.
5. Encourage your child to study music and take music lessons. Studies show that young children who study music and take music lessons have an overall increased IQ. IQ points rose as much as 7 points over a 9 month period in these children.
6. Limit things that do nothing to improve a child's brain development. Talking "baby talk" to an infant does nothing to build his vocabulary. Television is hypnotic and children who watch too much TV become depressed.