Children’s brains are a work in progress. How they develop is related to the experiences they have in their early years. How children’s brains develop depends upon how the genes they’re born with (nature) interplay with the experiences they have (nurture). There are prime times for acquiring different kinds of knowledge and skills called critical windows. These critical windows are when certain parts of the brain can learn the best.
How Children’s Brains Develop
Each child is born with about 100 billion brain cells, which is 10 times the number of stars in the entire Milky Way. At Birth, the more the brain is stimulated, the faster and stronger these connections become. These connections then become a part of the permanent structure of the brain. But, if the brain is not stimulated, the connections between cells dry up. Simply, the more connections between the brain cells the better because these connections are forming the structures that will allow a child to learn.
Parts of the Brain
The brain is made up of 5 major parts:
The brainstem is fully developed at birth. The brainstem is responsible for functions such as blood pressure, heart rate, and body temperature. The brainstem must be fully functional at Birth in order for an infant to survive.
The Cerebellum controls a person’s automatic movements and balance. Dancing, kicking a football, or bringing a cup to the lips to drink are all coordinated by the cerebellum. If a child’s cerebellum is damaged, the brain cannot coordinate movement.
The Midbrain controls sleep, arousal responses, appetite and motor movements (such as running and skipping). The midbrain is very important for moving.
The Limbic System controls emotions and long-term memories. The limbic system can override rational thoughts and parts of the brain controlled by the brainstem such as blood pressure. Stress will cause blood pressure to go up. A part of the limbic system is involved in attaching emotions to memory. So, every time we remember an event, the emotion comes along with it. Another part of the limbic system converts information from learning and working into long-term memory. It checks new information against stored experiences in order to establish meaning.
The Cortex is the “executive branch” of the brain. It regulates decision-making and makes judgments about incoming information. The different regions of the cortex are responsible for processing our vision, touch, hearing, speech, language development, and problem-solving, and allows us to plan and rehearse our future actions.
Critical Windows for Babies Brain Development
The term “critical windows” means that at certain times in the life of a child, parts of their brain that are responsible for important functions need to be stimulated so the connections between the brain cells can be made and become strong. The following critical windows for specific functions are presented along with what you can do to build strong brain cell connections.
Vision- Critical Window is Birth to 6 Months
It’s important that your child have interesting things to look at. Here are some ideas:
- Hold your baby so she can look around and see all the wonderful things in her world.
- Hang mobiles above your baby’s bed so he can look at something interesting when he is in his crib.
- Decorate your baby’s room with colorful objects. Put up big pictures of animals or other children’s faces for her to look at. High contrast pictures stimulate the brain and strengthen the connections between cells. Do not put your baby in front of a television. The sights and sounds can be a sensory overload for the baby.
Vocabulary and Speech- Critical Window is Birth to 3 Years
Did you know that an adult’s vocabulary is largely determined by the speech that is heard within the first three years? A baby’s brain pays attention to the sound, not the words, which are being said. To build strong neural connections in the brain, here are some suggestions:
- Talk to your child in full sentences. “Oh, I can see you are a very hungry little girl,” is better than “Hungry?”
- Read to your children – fun, happy stories with a lot of stimulating pictures!
- Sing to your baby. She’ll love the rhythm and melody of your voice.
- When you’re with your baby, explain the things you are doing. General conversation is important for your baby even if he can’t talk along with you.
Emotional Development- Critical Window is Birth to 18 Months
A child’s home life plays an important role in how a child’s personality will develop. A nurturing home will help children grow up emotionally healthy. A home with stress and violence can cause children to become fearful, anxious and hyperactive. Here are some things to do to help your baby develop emotional health:
- Pick up your baby when he cries. Talk to him. Comfort him. Find out why he’s crying. Be nurturing. Your baby really needs to be reassured.
- Babies enjoy having the same people in their lives every day. Stick to the same child care as much as possible.
- Establish warm, nurturing parenting routines around feeding; bath, dressing and bedtimes. Babies love the consistency that routines provide.
Logic and Math- Critical Window is Age 1 to 4 Years
Infants begin to become aware of cause and effect, the location of objects, and the function of objects very early in life. Here are some suggestions for helping children develop their reasoning abilities:
- Explain the purpose of household items. Turn on and off light switches; open and close plastic items; put small plastic bowls into larger ones.
- Give children things to play with; help them to explore their environment. Remember: put safety latches on cabinet doors that contain items that can be harmful to baby. Review your safety checklist and remove dangerous items. Children need to explore and safety.
What Every Child Needs
Interaction Consistent, long-term attention from caring adults actually
increases your child’s capacity to learn.
Gentle Touch Holding and cuddling do more than just Comfort your baby – touch
helps his brain grow!
Stable Relationships Relationships with parents and other caregivers buffer stress that
can harm your child.
Safe, Healthy Environment should be free of unsafe materials (like lead paint,
Environments sharp objects and other hazards) and loud noises.
Self-Esteem Self-esteem rows with respect, encouragement and positive role
models from the beginning.
Quality Care Quality care from trained professionals when you can’t be with
your child.
Play Play helps your child explore her senses and discover how the
world works.
Communication Talking with your baby builds his verbal skills.
Music Music expands your child’s world, teaches new skills, and offers a
fun way to interact with your child.
Reading Reading to your child from the earliest days of her life shows its
importance and create a lifelong love of books, and helps grow a healthy brain!