Intelligence is largely objective, characterized by creativity, curiosity, and even genetics: There is no one way to embody high intelligence, measure it, or pursue it, even if you are a professional. “Intelligence reflects the general ability to process information, which promotes learning, understanding, reasoning (and) problem solving” Linda S. GottfredsonPh.D. and professor of education at the University of Delaware in Newark, told WebMD.

However, there are ways in which parents can help allow all of the traits that influence intelligence to flourish.

Here are 7 ways to develop high intelligence in your children, according to a college advisor:

“I was surrounded by incredibly smart people, in high school, college and even graduate school,” said one college advisor. YJ Heo on TikTok explained in a recent video on the cultivation of intelligence. “I’m not a parent, but this is what I learned from these successful people. »

Heo offered specific advice for parents who want to prioritize their children’s learning and academic pursuits.

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1. Embrace social discussions at the table

Kids are kids – of course – and they deserve to have carefree fun. At the same time, there are situations in which you should talk to your children as if they were adults.

They may not understand completely, but just sitting at the table and listening to complex discussions between their parents will help them absorb current events. It will also teach them to appreciate and engage in healthy discourse.

Encourage them to contribute. Share your professional struggles as creative parents Janyl Smith and her husband do with their daughter Summer at the end of their day.

“It is absolutely inevitable that these children will become intelligent because they talk about the world around them,” Heo explained. “They have to understand what’s going on in order to report it and talk about it. »

2. Encourage reading

Children from homes where reading a lot is more successful with reading comprehension and early cognition than their peers.

As technology develops and the consequences of screen time become more evident, these children will start school well ahead of their peers – grounded in curiosity and a strong, hands-on foundation of learning.

“Over time, this accumulation of knowledge, information processing, context and understanding how other intelligent people think allows children to process information more effectively,” Heo said. “But you want to get your child reading material that interests them.”

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3. Introduce them to new things

For children who do not have an innate sense of curiosityHeo said parents need to make an effort to expose them to learning opportunities.

Whether it’s taking them to museums, playing classical music at home, or openly adopting your own hobbies around them, you need to make the leap between your children’s potential and success.

Show up for your kids and show up for yourself, even if that means learning about a few world issues, reading your first book in a few decades, or make room for your own hobbies.

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4. Discuss popular entertainment and media topics

Of course, not every moment of your life and routine can be centered around reading or focused entirely on a curated learning experience. It’s also important to discuss pop culture.

“You’re not just here to be entertained; you are there to understand what the meaning is,” Heo noted. “All the movies, all the books, all the articles… discussing them, a child’s mind becomes active.”

Most importantly, you teach them that learning is fun.

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5. Be a “hands-on” coach

The most creative and intelligent children often come from supportive environments where they were trained to embrace their authenticity, achieve their goals, and create healthy habits.

“Parents are like a coach. They don’t just play the game for the child…They tell the child how to play the game“, said Héo. “They are practical enough to train the student as if he were a player.”

Parents need to be more than just cheerleaders for their children; they must make them young adults who are balanced and eager to learn.

6. Teach them not to take things personally

Creativity, curiosity and authenticity come from empathy: how can you learn from someone else’s perspective, without judgment and without shame? It starts with your parents, particularly how they approached conversations with other people and resolved conflicts at home.

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“You try to make them understand that you can handle the world around you and have discussions without taking things personally,” Heo explained, adding that highly intelligent children also have emotional intelligence to support their social interactions.

7. Avoid being judgmental

“I couldn’t discuss anything with my mother,” Heo explained, “because she was a little more extreme in her answers. Whereas my father was really willing to hear what I had to say …he withheld his judgment in dealing with things with me, and we had more in-depth discussions.

Children who grow up in critical homes not only struggle to integrate healthy habits into their lives and develop their intelligence, but they also experience higher rates of depression, anxiety, and social struggles as adults compared to their peers.

“If a child’s parent seems to judge them, they’re going to cut off the communication that’s stopping them from processing,” which essentially shuts down their cognitive growth and curiosity.

You don’t need tons of resources, money, or support to instill a love of learning in your children.

Of course, some children become very intelligent adults, even without encouragement or resources – some even claim, like Heo, that they succeed “despite” their circumstances.

Ultimately, intelligence is objective: all we can do is support our children, cultivate safe spaces for them to thrive, and communicate openly without fear of “not knowing” or ‘look stupid.

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Zayda Slabbekoorn is a writer with a BA in Social Relations, Politics and Gender Studies who focuses on psychology, relationships, self-help and human interest stories.