Is Your Child Age 3 TO 5 Years Old? You Need This Knowledge, So You Don’t Slow Their Growth And Development

Vicky

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How to fuel exponential brain growth before kindergarten

𝐃𝐄𝐕𝐄𝐋𝐎𝐏𝐌𝐄𝐍𝐓𝐀𝐋 𝐌𝐈𝐋𝐄𝐒𝐓𝐎𝐍𝐄𝐒 (𝐀𝐆𝐄𝐒 3–5)

𝐂𝐨𝐠𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐃𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐥𝐨𝐩𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 (𝐓𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 & 𝐋𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠)

‎By ages 3–5, a child can:

‎‎Count 5–10 objects (stones, bottle tops, beans)
‎‎Identify colours and shapes.
‎‎Recognise letters and numbers.
‎Ask many “Why?” questions (this is intelligence, not stubbornness)
‎‎Understand cause and effect
‎(“If I scatter my toys, mummy won’t allow me watch TV”)
‎‎Follow 2–3 simple instructions

‎👉 𝐏𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐓𝐢𝐩:
‎Do not shut down questions with “keep quiet!” Answer patiently or say, “Let me explain later.”

𝐋𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐮𝐚𝐠𝐞 𝐃𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐥𝐨𝐩𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭

He or she should Speaks in full sentences
Tells short stories (often exaggerated)
Knows name, age, and family members
Switches between mother tongue and English
Wings rhymes and remembers songs

‎👉 𝐏𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐓𝐢𝐩:
‎Speak to your child in English and your native language (Yoruba, Igbo, Hausa, etc.). Bilingualism boosts intelligence.

𝐒𝐨𝐜𝐢𝐚𝐥 & 𝐄𝐦𝐨𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐃𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐥𝐨𝐩𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭

He or she should b able to plays with other children (siblings, cousins, neighbours)
Learns sharing and taking turns
‎Shows empathy: “Mummy, she is crying.”
Expresses emotions with words
Wants praise and approval from adults
‎ 𝐏𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐓𝐢𝐩:
‎Teach emotional expression. Replace “stop crying” with “Tell me why you’re upset.”

𝐏𝐡𝐲𝐬𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐥 𝐃𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐥𝐨𝐩𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭

Gross Motor Skills

‎Runs, jumps, climbs
Rides a tricycle
Kicks and throws
‎Fine Motor Skills
Holds pencil or crayon properly
Draws simple people and shapes
Uses scissors
Wears clothes with little help

‎👉 𝐏𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐓𝐢𝐩:
‎Allow outdoor play. Locking children indoors with phones and TV slows development.

𝐍𝐔𝐓𝐑𝐈𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍𝐀𝐋 𝐍𝐄𝐄𝐃𝐒 (𝐀𝐆𝐄𝐒 3–5) 𝐍𝐈𝐆𝐄𝐑𝐈𝐀𝐍 𝐅𝐎𝐎𝐃𝐒

Key Nutrients & Local Food Sources

‎Protein (Growth & Brain)
Eggs
Fish (panla, mackerel, crayfish)
Beans, moi-moi, akara
Chicken, meat
Iron (Prevents “lack of blood”)
Liver
Beans
Vegetable, spinach
Groundnuts
Calcium & Vitamin D (Bones & Teeth)
Milk, yogurt
Cheese
Sunlight exposure (morning sun)
Healthy Fats (Brain Development)
Palm oil (moderate)
Vegetable oil
Fish oil
Avocado (pear)
Fruits & Vegetables
Pawpaw, banana, orange
Watermelon

Carrots, okra

‎𝐅𝐞𝐞𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐓𝐢𝐩𝐬 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐏𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬

3 meals + 2 healthy snacks daily
Reduce sugary drinks, biscuits, and noodles
‎Let children feed themselves (it builds confidence)
‎Picky eating is normal, don’t force food
‎Avoid using food as a bribe

𝐃𝐈𝐒𝐂𝐈𝐏𝐋𝐈𝐍𝐄 𝐒𝐓𝐑𝐀𝐓𝐄𝐆𝐈𝐄𝐒 𝐓𝐇𝐀𝐓 𝐖𝐎𝐑𝐊 (𝐀𝐆𝐄𝐒 3–5)

Discipline means teaching, not beating.

𝐄𝐟𝐟𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐃𝐢𝐬𝐜𝐢𝐩𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐞 𝐌𝐞𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐝𝐬

‎Clear rules: simple and consistent
‎(“We don’t hit,” “We greet elders.”)

Natural consequences:
‎(“If you scatter toys, you pack them back.”)

‎Time-out: short and calm (3–5 minutes)

‎Positive praise:
‎“Well done for greeting aunty.”

‎Redirection: distract instead of shouting

‎Give choices:
‎“Blue cup or red cup?”

D𝐢𝐬𝐜𝐢𝐩𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐞 𝐌𝐞𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐝𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐀𝐯𝐨𝐢𝐝

‎Beating and slapping
‎Shouting and insulting
‎Threats and curses
‎Public shaming
‎👉 𝐓𝐫𝐮𝐭𝐡:
‎Fear may stop behaviour temporarily, but it damages confidence and emotional health.

𝐁𝐄𝐒𝐓 𝐏𝐀𝐑𝐄𝐍𝐓𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐒𝐓𝐘𝐋𝐄𝐒 𝐅𝐎𝐑 𝐀𝐆𝐄𝐒 3–5

Au𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐏𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 (𝐁𝐄𝐒𝐓)

‎Loving but firm
‎Clear boundaries with explanations
‎Encourages respect without fear
‎Builds confident and disciplined children

𝐏𝐨𝐬𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞 / 𝐆𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐥𝐞 𝐏𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠

‎Teaches emotional intelligence
‎Helps children name feelings
Reduces tantrums and aggression.

𝐏𝐥𝐚𝐲𝐁𝐚𝐬𝐞𝐝 𝐏𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠

‎Learning through songs, games, and stories
‎Encourages creativity and imagination
Supports early literacy and numeracy.

𝐏𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐒𝐭𝐲𝐥𝐞𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐀𝐯𝐨𝐢𝐝

‎Too harsh: produces fearful or aggressive children

‎Too permissive: creates entitled children

‎Neglectful: damages emotional development

𝐖𝐇𝐀𝐓 𝐍𝐈𝐆𝐄𝐑𝐈𝐀𝐍 𝐂𝐇𝐈𝐋𝐃𝐑𝐄𝐍 𝐀𝐆𝐄𝐒 3–5 𝐍𝐄𝐄𝐃 𝐌𝐎𝐒𝐓

‎Stable routines
‎Loving correction
‎Freedom to play
‎Emotional safety
‎Positive role models
‎Consistent values