Analyzing Brain Research Influence On Children 's Brain Development

1. Brain Based Research: What does this tell us about young children 's brains and how they best learn? What ideas do teachers of young children need to keep in mind?

Early childhood is one of the most critical developmental periods in a human’s lifespan. The child transitions from infancy and begins the essential changes needed before the next developmental period begins, middle childhood which begins at six years of age. Development refers to “the orderly patterns of change, as well as continuities that occur in an individual through their life span” (text, p3). Human development is determined by both genes and environmental influences or nature and nurture. Nature refers to heredity which is the passing of traits from parents to their children and maturation which is the changes biologically programmed by genes (text, p7). Nurture refers to the changes that occur due to the individual’s environment

From the ages of two and six years of age the average brain gains ten percent in mass (Manis, 2016). Between the ages two and three, the average child possesses almost fifty percent more synapses than the average adult. However, pruning during childhood and adolescents reduces these levels to the normal adult levels. During early childhood, children also improvement in their neural networks. This is caused by increased growth of dendrites and myelination of axon pathways during early childhood. The part of the brain that shows the most growth during early childhood is the prefrontal cortex. The prefrontal cortex is responsible for problem solving, decision making, and goal setting. Working memory, inhibition of responses or thoughts, and shifting between mental states or rules and tasks is also handled by the prefrontal cortex. These specific areas are especially important during early childhood. These tasks are important because they allow the child to learn how to perform tasks, and promote future academic

Because the brain is making so many connections pre-birth to age 3, the first three years of life are the most critical for brain development. After age 3, the "window of opportunity" closes. You're sitting here learning something right now aren't you?!! Although brain connector density is at its highest level in the first three years of life, that doesn't mean that the brain has its greatest brain power at that time. A great deal of learning goes on after the first three years of life. However, the first three years are important for laying the groundwork for healthy psychological development.

When babies are born, their brains are ready to learn. As they learn, their brains grow. This helps them learn about the world around them. This also gives them a chance to explore the world around them in new ways. Exploring and trying things out is how babies learn. Although brain development is natural, there is a lot more to it than developing on its own. Brain development comes from moms, dads, siblings, aunts, uncles, caregivers and just the people around the babies. We help babies learn about the world around them. We give babies chances to touch, taste, see, hear, and smell as they can. We give them chances to do and learn many of things. We just have to do the right things that support brain development, such as, being caring and supportive, paying attention to the babies, giving them what they need, and providing a rich learning environment. In this essay I will focus on what babies and toddlers need from caregivers for normal brain development.

The Whole-Brain Child guides parents through the science behind a child’s developing brain. Authors Daniel J. Siegel and Tina Payne Bryson deliver solutions for integrating the four quadrants of their child’s brain (upper, lower, left, and right) and how to use these solutions when dealing with the child, in either a difficult situation or happy moment. The Whole-Brain Child looks at the brain development of children from newborns to twelve years old. Also included in the book are twelve strategies for parents to use. These strategies are based on scientific brain research and include detailed, step-by-step processes on how to utilize the strategies throughout a child’s development stage. A child with an active and engaged brain tends to be generally healthier, and has the ability to be self-aware, understanding, and a relationship- builder.

The neural tube is lined with stem cells and can be divided and help to create other new cells. In the formation of the prenatal brain development are the three main regions which are the hindbrain, midbrain and the forebrain. The hindbrain structure is the first to develop, then the midbrain and the forebrain. The developing brain cells multiply; differentiate and migrate to their final destination. Therefore, neurons are beginning to form the structure of developing nervous system. As the brain developed after birth, the frontal lobe developed voluntary movement, perception, reasoning, attachment and a sense of emotional well-being. As a child reaches 7 to 8 months of age, the increase maturation of the child system reflects the development of the brain as distant objects become clearer. At the age of six, the brain is full of energy and is about 95% of its adult weight. At that stage which is the concrete operational stage, neural or grey matter of pruning and wiring of the brain is still in progress. Fatty tissues around the neurons or the white matter increase the speed of electrical impulses and stabilize connection. Children are more capable of true logical thought but ignore social causes as they have very little or no regards for others but themselves. At the adolescence to maturity, the prefrontal cortex of the brain is the last to develop as it controls impulses and

Brain development may be one of the most important things that happen in a child’s first few years of life. The experiences and environments children grow up in dictate how and how much child’s brain will develop. Stress, threats, and traumas have very negative affects during the vital stages of brain development and need to be reduced or stopped all together.

The brain development and neurochemistry is a direct influence from the child’s biochemical growth process, as well as dendritic and axonal development in the first year of life (p.89) it is the hard wiring of the brain hierarchical, from the lower limbic emotional structure, from the mid brain, to the cortical structure, and develops during the early period of life (p.89). Therefore it is during this time of infancy that one learns that it is the main caregiver who provides the child with attention, soothing, stimulation, and affection, touch, discipline, validation, information (p.89). Whereas, a child who does not receive the same care, the brain will become hard-wired to not to trust other’s, develop low-esteem, and have trouble developing meaningful relationships.

According to Cindy Hill, there are four stages of brain development. They are the following: prenatal development to birth, birth to age three, age three to age eleven, and then age eleven to death. From prenatal to birth, their brain develops its basic framework, but it isn't fully developed yet. Also, during this time, the brain is arranging the neurons the infant will have at birth (approximately 100 billion neurons). Then, from birth to age 3, the brain starts to connect the unconnected neurons present at birth. The environment helps with this by causing your brain nerve cells to send signals to each other, making pathways of connections (Hill, 2015). This makes sense to me since I grew up with my cousins from birth to now. When they were first born, they didn’t really do much except eat and sleep. Then, as they got older (as the pathways of connection started to complete) they started functioning more like learning to crawl, walk and talk. They began to notice more things and become more curious about their environment.

The science of early brain development can inform investments in early childhood. These basic concepts, established over decades of neuroscience and behavioral research, help illustrate why child development—particularly from birth to five years—is a foundation for a prosperous and sustainable society. (Center on the Develoing Child, 2007) In this paper the author will focus on the brain development from birth to early preschool age. Examine the role of attachment, interactions and environmental factors that influence the process of development.

One thing I found especially interesting or important is that the infant brain starts to develop at three weeks during the gestation period. The brain continue to grow after the baby is born and throughout their lifetime. I also found it important that before birth and the first three years of life the brain grows its quickest. This is why during the embryonic and fetal period and the first three years of life the brain the brain is vulnerable and adaptability to any stressful or negative situation. The early years of a child is a window of opportunity to develop meaningful experiences that will have lasting effect on a child’s life.

“Experiences during early childhood affect the structural development of the brain and the neurobiological pathways that determine a child's functional development.” Experiences in early childhood affect the structural development of the brain. Neurons are being created and work hard to make connections to increase cognitive development. Cognitive development is important in early

As the size of the head is much greater than the rest of the body, the brain developments in a very quick pace (Berk & Meyers 2016, p. 161). A majority of brain growth occurs rapidly in the early years of an infant’s life and is a crucial period in brain development (Fallik 2016, p. 7). During the first two years, children are forming neurons that store and communicate information and synapses (Berk & Meyers 2016, p.162).

Much like wet clay in the hands of an artist, a brain is easily manipulated during an individual 's childhood. These essential years of nurturing are crucial