{"product_id":"raise-a-smarter-child-by-kindergarten-isbn-9780767923026","title":"Raise a Smarter Child by Kindergarten","description":"\u003cb\u003eNature didn’t finish your child’s brain at birth. It’s up to you to maximize your child’s mental skills without causing additional stress. Acclaimed neurologist and bestselling author of \u003ci\u003eGrain Brain\u003c\/i\u003e, David Perlmutter, MD, offers these valuable tools: \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/b\u003eSimple games to reinforce memory pathways in the brain\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eInformation on common household products and children’s toys that contain brain-damaging neurotoxins \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe right foods and supplements to boost intelligence and turn on your child’s \u003ci\u003esmart genes\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eHow to turn the television, the computer, and video games into educational tools\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eProven ways to reduce the risk of your child developing ADD and ADHD\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eBetween birth and age five, your child has up to thirty IQ points at stake. Scientists now know that the human brain is undergoing a constant and dramatic transformation in the first years of life. During this peak time of development, \u003ci\u003eevery\u003c\/i\u003e activity and experience leaves an indelible mark on your baby’s brain, for better or worse. The right kind of stimulation and nutrition will create connections in the brain that promote intelligence and raise IQ. The wrong kinds of activities and foods can stifle intellectual development, destroy brain cells, and leave your child more vulnerable to learning or behavior problems down the road. So, what can you do during the first five years to ensure that your child is primed to excel?\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe good news is that raising a smarter child is easier than you think. It doesn’t require making an investment in expensive equipment or high priced tutors. It’s as simple as playing the right games, serving the right foods, and maintaining a brain-enhancing environment in your home by eliminating common household toxins. In \u003ci\u003eRaise a Smarter Child by Kindergarten \u003c\/i\u003eby Dr. David Perlmutter, you’ll learn easy and highly effective strategies that can vastly improve your child’s brain power and reduce his or her chances of developing ADD and ADHD. For example, you can: \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eStimulate Memory:\u003c\/b\u003e Changing a component on the over-the-crib mobile every week makes the baby compare what was there before to what’s there now, reinforcing memory pathways in the brain that are critical for learning.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eSpread out those shots\u003c\/b\u003e: Schedule more frequent trips to the pediatrician for vaccinations, so that fewer shots are administered at once. Flooding the immune system with a cocktail of different vaccines can damage the nervous system. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eGet rid of toxins:\u003cb\u003e \u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/b\u003eProtecting a child from neurotoxins found in foods, toys and even baby bottles can help preserve precious IQ points. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eInside, Dr. Perlmutter provides a scientifically backed food and supplement plan for children and nursing mothers and details the many brain-building activities that you can do with your child. In addition, he reveals the numerous toys and household products that contain harmful, brain-damaging toxins and shows how to identify and combat common childhood problems like ADD and food allergies that may affect your child’s development. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eYour job over the first five years is to help your child build the best brain possible. With Dr. Perlmutter’s help, you can mine the countless opportunities you have each day to make your child smarter, happier and better prepared to excel.“\u003ci\u003eRaise a Smarter Child by Kindergarten\u003c\/i\u003e is a revolutionary guide to optimal childhood development. Dr. Perlmutter provides parents the everyday tools they need to give their children the best possible start in life, and actionable recommendations to put them on the road to success.”\u003cbr\u003e—Andrew Weil, M.D. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“Dr. David Perlmutter has been a leading–edge neurologist for years and this book contains information that every parent needs to know.”\u003cbr\u003e—Christiane Northrup, M.D., author of \u003ci\u003eThe Wisdom of Menopause\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003eGive your child a head start that will last a lifetime, \u003ci\u003eRaise a Smarter Child by Kindergarten \u003c\/i\u003eshould be required reading for all new parents.”\u003cbr\u003e—Julian Whitaker, M.D., founder of the Whitaker Wellness Institute\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“If it were up to me, every hospital and obstetrician would be required to provide a copy of this book to every new set of parents.”\u003cbr\u003e\u003ci\u003e— \u003c\/i\u003eBernie Siegel, M.D.\u003ci\u003e \u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cb\u003eDavid Perlmutter, M.D.,\u003c\/b\u003e is a board-certified neurologist and founder of the Perlmutter Health Center. He is the author of \u003ci\u003eThe Better Brain Book\u003c\/i\u003e and a recipient of the Linus Pauling Award.  Dr. Perlmutter has appeared widely on television and as a speaker. He lives in Naples, Florida. \u003cb\u003eCarol Colman\u003c\/b\u003e is the co-author of numerous bestselling health and diet books.CHAPTER ONE\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe Smart Advantage\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eWhat does it take to raise a smarter child? What must parents do during the  first five years of life to ensure that their child is primed to excel in  school and in life?\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe good news is, raising a smarter child is easier than you think. It  doesn't require making an investment in expensive equipment or high-priced  tutors. Nor do you have to devote every waking minute to demanding academic  drills. There are easy (and I do mean easy) yet highly effective strategies  that can vastly improve your child's brain power. It's as simple as playing  the right games with your child, putting the right food on your child's  plate, maintaining a brain-enhancing environment in your home, and last but  not least, giving your child lots of love.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eI'm a neurologist, a physician who specializes in disorders of the brain and  nervous system. At my offices at the Perlmutter Health Center in Naples,  Florida, I have worked with both children and adults for more than twenty  years. I am also a father of two teenage children. Over the past five years,  there have been incredible breakthroughs in the field of  neurosciences--particularly in the area of early childhood development--that  have given us a new understanding of how the brain develops.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eScience now tells us that the human brain is unfinished at birth. There's a  brief window of opportunity in a child's life when parents can help create a  brain that is built for optimal performance. Your child's future depends on  how well you do that job. If you do your job well, you will raise a smarter  child who will fulfill his or her full intellectual potential.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eWhen I was in medical school, the prevailing scientific view was that the  brain you are born with is your brain for life. This belief has now been  refuted. New and more effective imaging techniques have provided a window  into the brain that has enabled us to see how the brain changes throughout  our lifetime. We now know that the human brain is undergoing a constant and  dramatic transformation from birth until about age 5 and, to a lesser  extent, throughout our entire lives. The brain can be shaped and molded well  into adulthood and even into old age, but the most important work is done in  early childhood. And that's when parents can make the biggest impact on the  lives of their children.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eDuring the peak time of brain development, \u003ci\u003eevery\u003c\/i\u003e activity and experience  leaves an indelible mark on your baby's brain, for better or worse. The  right kind of stimulation will create connections in the brain that promote  intelligence and emotional stability. The wrong kind of stimulation--or lack  of stimulation--can stifle intellectual development, destroy brain cells,  and leave your child more vulnerable to learning or behavior problems down  the road.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eSome of you may be thinking: Isn't intelligence largely determined by  genetics? Won't smart parents automatically have smart children? And if  that's true, what can you do about your child's genes? We now know that for  the most part, great brains are made, they are not born. From birth to age  3, up to 30 IQ points are up for grabs. Children may be born with the  genetic potential to have a higher than average IQ, but if they are not  properly nurtured and nourished during the first few years of life, they  will not achieve their full potential. What parents do--or fail to do--can  win or lose IQ points.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e     \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eDON'T LET YOUR CHILD MISS OUT\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eLots of well-meaning parents are missing key opportunities to enhance their  children's intellectual and emotional well-being, not because they are  derelict in their duties, but because they are not fully informed.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThere are simple ways you can make your child smarter and make sure that  those precious IQ points don't go down the drain.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e• Breast-feeding your baby for the first twelve months of life can boost  her IQ by up to 8 points. If you can't breast-feed or have to stop early, be  sure to use a commercial infant formula that is fortified with  brain-boosting nutrients.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e• Feed your toddler an optimal diet to enhance brain growth. Even a  slight deficiency in a key vitamin, mineral, or nutrient (such as iron or  iodine) during the time when the brain is going through its spectacular  growth spurt can result in a lower IQ, poor test scores, depression, and  even teen drug abuse down the road.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e• Engage your baby in mentally stimulating activities from the first few  weeks of life through her entire childhood. The right games and activities  can improve her memory, boost her mental capacity, and hone her critical  thinking skills.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e• Limit the amount of time your child spends watching TV and DVDs and  playing video games. Excess time spent watching TV and playing video games  during early childhood adds up to poor grades at school.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e• Introduce your child to formal musical training by age 4. It will make  him a stronger math and science student.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e• Early training on a computer can improve your child's cognitive  function and better prepare him for school.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e• Protect your child from common brain toxins found in food, toys,  clothing, and even your own backyard that can cause learning problems and  rob her of IQ points.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e• Raise your child in a warm, loving, low-stress environment with  attentive caregivers.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e     \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eEvery choice a parent makes, from what to feed a child, to how much TV a  child watches, to the choice of caregiver can profoundly affect a child's  brain growth and development. And so much of your child's brain development  is under your control.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e     \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eSO WHAT ABOUT GENETICS?\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eAnd of course, there's a child's genetic makeup, which he gets from you, his  parents. Genetics does play an important role in creating a smart brain, but  not necessarily in the way that you would expect. And this is probably going  to really surprise many of you--we now know that you actually have far more  control over your genes than was once believed.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eA healthy baby is born with the raw material to make a great brain, but  there's still a lot of work to be done. The newborn brain has 100 billion  brain cells (called neurons), but they are unable to communicate with each  other very well. During the first one thousand days of life, neurons must  learn to talk to each other by forming the vital connections--the neural  \"pathways to success\"--that provide the foundation for language, vision,  hearing, learning, feeling, and thinking. Enhancing these connections can  spell the difference between a good brain and a great brain. A smart brain  is hardwired to think, learn, process, and retrieve information quickly and  efficiently. It's true that many of the processes of brain development are  gene dependent, but it's also true that we have a great deal of say over how  those genes behave.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eIt was once believed that if a child was lucky enough to have smart parents,  he would inherit smart genes and be born with a great brain. Of course, it  doesn't always work that way in real life because as we've now learned,  there's so much more to this story than just pure genetics. Environment as  well as genetics plays an important role in intelligence and future academic  success. Babies who are loved, well nurtured, and well nourished grow up to  be adults with higher IQs compared to babies who were not as well cared for.  What we didn't fully appreciate in the past was the relationship between  genes and environment, or more specifically, how it was possible for  environment to affect genes, and therefore IQ.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eWe now have a much better understanding of the interrelationship between  genes and the environment. Genes may determine the number and quality of  brain cells you are born with, but environmental influences over which you  as a parent have control turn on and off the very genes involved in brain  development. More importantly, we now know that under the right  circumstances, it is possible to turn on the right genes, the genes that  will make a brain smarter. And I mean this literally.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eGenes do their work by directing the production of proteins that are  critical for brain development. These special proteins regulate the wiring  between brain cells that ultimately makes the brain smarter, and they are  especially important during this period of peak brain development. But what  controls the smart genes in the first place? Lots of things, including  regular mental stimulation, physical activity, the right foods and  nutrients, and the experience of feeling loved and emotionally secure.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eWe also know that a negative environment can turn on bad genes and\/or  prevent good genes from being activated. Children who are fed a less than  optimal diet, not raised in a mentally stimulating environment, exposed to  dangerous chemicals in the environment, or raised in a stressful household  are not as likely to achieve their full intellectual potential as children  raised under better conditions.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eWHAT ARE BRAIN-BUILDING ACTIVITIES?\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eBrain-building activities are those that challenge the brain, thereby  stimulating the neurons to make more connections, which will make the brain  stronger, faster, more efficient, and ultimately smarter. The point of these  activities is to train the brain how to think, not what to think. It's about  building up the brain's capacity so that your child will be better able to  process and utilize information for her entire life. The right kind of  stimulation at this pivotal time will create an optimal brain, one that will  give your child better tools to perform well in the classroom.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe achievable goal during this critical window of opportunity is to create  the fastest, most efficient, and highest-capacity brain, setting the stage  for future success. Much as we all strive for the fastest computer with the  most storage capacity, you can achieve the same results with your child's  brain. Again, the goal is not to overwhelm your child's brain with as many  facts as possible before she starts kindergarten, but rather to create a  brain that stores facts efficiently and, most importantly, is able to  retrieve them easily. Essentially, the goal should not be \u003ci\u003ewhat\u003c\/i\u003e she learns, but \u003ci\u003ehow\u003c\/i\u003e she learns.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eDuring the first five years of life, when the brain is undergoing rapid  development, children should spend most of their waking hours engaged in  brain-building endeavors. Unfortunately, children are devoting too much time  to activities that dull their brains, deaden their senses, and put their  future academic careers at risk. Watching television or DVDs--even  educational programs--for hours on end, as many children do, is not good for  a growing brain. Nor is playing video games for hours at a time. But don't  get me wrong--I'm not suggesting small children shouldn't have any fun or  that they should be subjected to a rigorous academic setting. That would be  a terrible mistake. Children learn best when they are happy, relaxed, and  stimulated. That's one of the reasons why play is one of the best activities  for young children.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eIt may surprise you to learn that physical activity is also a terrific brain  builder. It boosts levels of the growth hormone in the brain that makes  better brain cells. But perhaps the most brain-enhancing activity of all is  imaginative play, the kind of play that comes naturally to children when  they have the time and space to pursue it.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eA SMART BRAIN IS A CREATIVE BRAIN\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eIn recent years, there has been an emphasis on beginning academic training  for children at younger and younger ages. We live in a very competitive world, and parents are afraid that if they don't push their children to  learn how to read or how to do simple arithmetic at very early ages, they  will fall behind and not do well in elementary school. Nothing could be  further from the truth. The choice of early academic intervention,  especially the kind of \"drill and test\" activities that are so popular today  in many preschools, is the wrong approach. Instead of building great brains,  we are merely creating tape recorders that can regurgitate information but  cannot synthesize it to come up with new ideas. At a time when a child  should be encouraged to be creative, which is the foundation for advanced  thinking, many children are being loaded down with facts. More and more  preschools are adopting a curriculum that pushes children into early  academics. More and more elementary schools are eliminating creative outlets  such as recess and music and placing more emphasis on academics, or more  specifically, \"teaching for test.\" I have nothing against academics, and I  certainly believe that children need to be taught the basics, but,  ultimately, this trend is going to result in poor performance at school in  upper grades where critical thinking is essential. There is no scientific  evidence that the push to engage preschool-age children in early academics  actually works, and in point of fact, there is some evidence that they may  turn out to be more stressed and less creative.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eAny child can memorize his ABCs or learn to count if he is drilled long and  hard enough, but these are not highly effective brain-building activities.  It's far more important for the developing brain to learn the symbolic  nature of letters and words than how to spell, as well as to fully  understand what numbers mean and how to identify different shapes. You want  your child to understand what these letters represent--that they are symbols  and that they are made of shapes, and that numbers are also symbols made  from shapes, and each of these symbols means something different.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eCreativity is at the core of all problem solving, whether you are solving a  math problem, writing an essay, or designing a science project. For example,  if your child is confronted with a new challenge, such as a difficult math  problem or a challenging essay question, what does he need to succeed?  First, he must be comfortable with being in a novel and challenging  situation. This comfort level is fostered during the first five years by  allowing children to explore challenging situations, engage in creative  play, and learn that failure is an option. In other words, it's okay to take  intellectual risks. Next, his brain connections need to function at peak  performance, allowing him to draw upon a variety of types of stored  information from past experiences to find solutions to the new problem at  hand. It could be solving a math problem, writing a song, reading a poem  with understanding . . . it all requires creativity.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e     \u003cbr\u003ePREVENTING PROBLEMS DOWN THE ROAD\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThis book is not only about learning to develop your child's full  intellectual potential--I also believe the techniques described here can  help prevent many of the learning and behavior problems that are so  prevalent today. Once rare, conditions such as attention deficit disorder  (ADD) and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) are becoming  epidemic, affecting 10 to 12 percent of all school-age children. Many  children are brought to me by their desperate parents after they have been  diagnosed with learning or behavior disorders that make it difficult if not  impossible for them to do well in school and in life. I see a lot of unhappy  kids who are disruptive, easily distracted, and frustrated with their lives.  They don't have the discipline to sit still in a classroom or to learn how  to read, or the social skills to maintain friendships. By age 5, they feel  like failures, and very often, so do their parents. Their parents feel that  they have no choice but to put their children on strong psychoactive drugs  and are often coerced into doing so by teachers. I show these parents a  better way to treat their children's problems than drugging them into  submission. Simple changes in diet, different approaches to discipline, and  improved nutrient intake through supplements can make a huge difference in  these children's lives. I only wish that I could have gotten to these  parents earlier, long before their children began having these problems in  the first place, because, as you will soon read, problems such as ADHD are  almost uniformly preventable and manageable without drugs.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e     \u003cbr\u003eTHE ROLE OF PARENTS\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eYour job over the first five years of your child's life is to help her  develop the best brain possible. There are countless opportunities  throughout the day that can help make her smarter, happier, and better  prepared for the world. Even if you don't have a lot of time, you can still  find a few minutes every day to play a brain-stimulating game with your  child, read to your child, and sing to your child. You can support her  efforts to be creative by providing a rich home environment in which she can  engage in imaginative play. You can make sure that your child lives and  plays in as toxin-free and safe an environment as possible, and that she is  getting enough brain-building nutrients.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eDon't let your child miss out on this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e     \u003cbr\u003eHOW TO USE THIS BOOK\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003ci\u003eHow to Raise a Smarter Child by Kindergarten\u003c\/i\u003e is divided into six parts.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003ePart I, \"A Brief Window of Opportunity,\" describes the latest scientific  breakthroughs in brain development and explains how you can use this  information to help your child.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003ePart II, \"Sharpening Your Child's Mind from Crib to Classroom,\" provides  specific activities designed to build a better brain as well as offering  guidelines for television, video games, and computers.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003ePart III, \"Nutrition for a Smarter Brain,\" tells you everything you need to  know about what to feed your child's developing brain to make it smarter.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003ePart IV, \"Creating a Brain-Enhancing Environment for Your Child,\" alerts you  to common toxins found in homes, schools, and playgrounds that can harm a  developing brain, and tells you how to keep your children as toxin free as  possible.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003ePart V, \"The Brain-Body Connection,\" covers common medical procedures and  conditions that can harm your child's brain. It includes chapters on asthma,  ear infections, gluten sensitivity, snoring and sleep problems, head  injuries, and vaccinations.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003ePart VI, \"Fighting ADHD by Building a Better Brain,\" shows how to identify  the risk factors for ADHD early, how to contain small problems before they  become big ones, and what alternatives are available to the strong  prescription medicine typically prescribed for this problem.·Play games to reinforce memory and enhance verbal skills and creativity ·Serve meals that boost intelligence","brand":"Harmony","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":46304439042277,"sku":"NP9780767923026","price":19.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1842\/7735\/files\/9780767923026.jpg?v=1767735365","url":"https:\/\/k12savings.com\/es\/products\/raise-a-smarter-child-by-kindergarten-isbn-9780767923026","provider":"K12savings","version":"1.0","type":"link"}