Modern parents will do almost anything to boost their children's brain development -- from buying educational videos to enrolling their tots in foreign language classes.

But putting kids on the right track may be much simpler than parents realize.

A new study has found that the way mothers play with their babies can have a positive influence on their children's development.

Researchers at the University of Montreal observed 80 pairs of mothers and year-old babies playing together at home. In one experiment, the scientists gave the children a puzzle that was designed to be a bit advanced for their age.

Results showed that babies whose mothers answered their questions quickly and accurately and who provided hints in a helpful tone of voice performed better on tests of mental function.

Talking to the children during playtime about their feelings, thoughts and memories also boosts mental power. By age 2, kids who had responsive mothers were better at solving puzzles and showed greater self control than those whose mothers did not interact with them as much during play.

Source: KERO-TV 23 - http://tinyurl.com/ya4fg7K