From the post on the benefits of outdoor play on the health of children I'm beginning to think about ways I can foster the development of my daughters brain as it is developing. She's now 4.5 years old.

If I was creating a curriculum it would have Art, Physical activity, Nutrients, and Music.

Any thoughts?

Love her unconditonally and support all of her inquistiveness. When she wants to explore a area of life help her to do it. Give her contact to nature and animals and plants

Provide some kind of activity that promotes mental diciple for periods of time everyday or week... like dance or gymnastics, math, music, ice skating. For my kids it was piano and snow boarding. If you think snow boarding is not dicipline, you get up there and try it.

Provide an area of service or charity. Brain development is worth more if social consciousness is present to develop pathways to service for its utilization. She may still be a bit young for this... but soon.

You are really only as smart as you can creatively apply your intelligence to the real world.

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I would expose her to interaction with animals, and people, both young and older. Read to her, fairy tales with picture illustrations are sometimes fascinating to little ones. Show her the beauty of flowers and plants, maybe a visit to the botanical gardens. Observe her, and see what excites her being...work from there. Make sure you're both on the same page.

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"We can judge the heart of a man by his treatment of animals." ~Immanual Kant~