BANGOR – Children whose parents regularly interact with them from the time they are born likely will be smarter and happier, a local pediatrician told the school board Monday.

Studies have shown that parents can stimulate brain development in their children by regularly speaking enthusiastically and animatedly with them between birth and age 2, said Dr. Leo Leonidas. The more words parents use, the better, he said.

The concept isn’t new, but many people aren’t aware that they can begin working to improve their children’s language development and school performance as early as birth, said Leonidas, who is trying to spread the word.

Bangor Superintendent Robert Ervin invited Leonidas to address the school board because he was intrigued by the idea of helping more children enter school ready to learn.

“Especially in this frenzied society, the benefits of early positive interaction may not be understood well enough,” he said.

Chairman Martha Newman told Leonidas that the board would consider ways to get the message out.

Reading to children and playing with them also works to stimulate their memory center and make them smarter, said Leonidas. While talking, parents should make eye contact and point to an object.

A pediatrician for 32 years, Leonidas is a member of Gov. John Baldacci’s Commission on Early Brain Development.

The doctor said he was motivated to speak to the school board because he is seeing more and more children doing poorly in school and showing behavior problems such as depression and ADHD.

Parents should limit the amount of television their children watch and decrease the amount of stress in their lives. Being happy and playful with their little ones influences the emotional center of their children’s brains, which then stimulates the memory center, Leonidas said.

He said he would volunteer to hold sessions for parents to teach them the concepts involved in making their children happier and smarter.