A good diet, reading, and participation in sports can all help children develop their reasoning skills. Brain development and function require proper nutrition. Nutrients such as omega-3 fatty acids, antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals are important for cognitive development. A well-balanced diet rich in fruits, vegetables, lean meats, and whole grains can supply the nutrients required for brain function.
Reading is an essential cognitive development activity. It introduces youngsters to new ideas, terminology, and concepts, which can help them improve their reasoning abilities. Reading improves critical thinking and analytical skills as well. Physical activity improves cognitive development, particularly reasoning skills. Regular exercise improves cognitive performance by increasing blood flow to the brain. It also stimulates the release of neurotransmitters such as dopamine and serotonin, which increase mood and concentration.
According to a recent study, greater overall diet quality and reduced consumption of red meat, as well as increased time spent reading and participating in organized sports, improved reasoning skills in children throughout their first two years of school.
Children who ate healthier had better cognitive development than other children. Specifically, better overall diet quality, lower red meat consumption, and higher low-fat dairy product intake were linked to better reasoning skills.
Sehrish Naveed
Reasoning abilities are essential for learning, academic success, and everyday problem-solving. According to a recent study conducted at the University of Eastern Finland, improved overall diet quality and reduced red meat consumption, as well as increased time spent reading and participating in organized activities, improved reasoning skills in children throughout their first two school years.
“Children who ate healthier had better cognitive development than other children. Specifically, better overall diet quality, lower red meat consumption, and higher low-fat dairy product intake were linked to better reasoning skills,” explains University of Eastern Finland Doctoral Researcher Sehrish Naveed.
Children who spent more time reading and participating in organized sports performed better in reasoning tests than their peers. Excessive computer use and unsupervised leisure-time physical activity, on the other hand, were linked to weaker thinking skills. Screen time, active school transportation, recess physical activity, and intensity of physical activity were not related to thinking skills.
A holistic approach that includes a healthy diet, reading, and sports can have a synergistic effect on a child’s reasoning skills. A nutritious diet supports brain health, reading promotes cognitive development and language skills, and engaging in sports encourages critical thinking, problem-solving, and teamwork. These activities collectively contribute to a child’s overall cognitive development and reasoning abilities.
More than half of the children took part in a two-year family-based and individually tailored food and physical activity intervention. The intervention, however, had no effect on reasoning skills, with children in the intervention and control groups displaying identical cognitive development.
“Diet and physical activity intervention is only one factor influencing lifestyle and reasoning skills in growing children’s lives.” According to our findings, investing in a nutritious diet and encouraging children to read benefit the development of reasoning skills in youngsters. “Participating in organized sports also appears to support reasoning skills,” says Dr. Eero Haapala.
