Early Brain Development"
Prenatal Development
- By the time a baby is born, about 100 billion neurons or brain cells have been produced
- During the prenatal period, brain cells are already busy sending and receiving messages about touch, hearing, and movement
- Much of the connecting of neurons and strengthening of those connections takes place after birth
- Most behavior is controlled by “lower” brain centers, a newborn’s crying, spitting up, or soiling a just-changed diaper is not deliberate, and he cannot respond to praise or punishment at this age
Newborn to 2 Months
- The newborns eyes can track or follow movement, but only within a distance of 9-12 inches from the infants face
- Before 3 months, infants see best when looking “out of the corner of their eyes” (peripheral vision)
- The infant is especially sensitive to the sound of human speech and to touch around the mouth, the palms of the hands, and the bottom of the feet
- You cannot spoil a newborn by holding, touching, caressing, comforting, and meeting needs
2 to 6 Months
- Neuroscientists have found that the infant’s looking around at things with both eyes helps to fine-tune the connections among brain cells
- Between 3 and 6 months of age, an infant’s eyes should be aligned (not “crossed”) and able to focus together on one object
- Allow the infant to focus on one thing at a time
- Keep the pace and the field of vision for the infant “natural”; what we would call ordinary
6 to 12 Months
- Many babies begin to sit alone around 7 months, to crawl around 9-10 months, to pull to stand and cruise while holding on around 10-11 months, and to take first steps around 12 months (should be used as a general guideline as children mature at their own rate)
- Maturation occurs as brain cells that originate in motor areas of the brain are coated with myelin, allowing better control and coordination of movements
12 to 18 Months
- In addition to continued myelination, a young toddler’s coordination and smoothness of step is also influenced by practice so as to strengthen muscles and to improve the sense of balance
18 to 24 Months
- Another feature of brain development that contributes to toddler’s improving motor skills is the development of the cerebellum, an area of the brain important in the timing and coordination of most motor tasks
- Toddler’s need continued fine-tuning of motor circuits which can be done through drawing, painting, puzzles, buttoning and zippering clothing, stringing beads, or building with small blocks
- When adults limit toddler’s movement by confining them to seats or cramped areas, they are likelier to become irritable, restless, and to throw a tantrum
- Each new motor skill contributes to a toddler’s sense of mastery and his or her growing feeling of competence
24 to 36 Months
- Continued myelination and the fine-tuning of motor skills
- Development for preference for one or the other hand
- Emotional Competence: A child who is emotionally stable is self-motivated, can stick to a task, is capable of understanding others and can build trusting relationships, can cope with stress and is able to manage strong feelings.
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- Scientists believe that harmful behaviors or neglect in early life can affect the brain leading to lifelong problems. A healthy and caring environment, however, can create opportunities for the child to develop to his or her full potential.
Scientists and child development experts know that positive interactions with parents and other caregivers lay the groundwork for strong psychological and neurological development that babies need in order to develop emotional competence. A baby’s early care will affect how he or she develops, learns, copes with, and handles emotion.
Old Thinking New Thinking
- Brain development depends on the - Brain development is the result of a
genes you are born with. complex interplay between your genes
and your experiences.
- The experiences you have before - Early experiences have a profound
age three have a limited impact impact on the wiring of your brain
on later development. and on later development.
- A secure relationship with a primary - Early interactions and relationships
caregiver creates a favorable context directly effect the way the brain is
for early development and learning. wired.
- Brain development is linear, it’s - Brain development is non-linear as
capacity to learn and change there is clearly critical periods for
grows steadily from infant to acquiring different kinds of knowledge
adulthood. and skills.
- A toddler’s brain is much less active - By the time children reach age three,
active than the brain of a college their brains are twice as active as
student. those of adults.
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