Infant Learning: Brain Development Essay

According to (Woolfolk & Margetts, 2013), the brain begins to mature even before birth and it continues to mature throughout life. According to (Jetha & Segalowitz, 2012) all the brain functions do not mature at the same rate. A child with highly advanced verbal skills may develop gross and fine motor control more slowly and have trouble learning to write clearly (Jetha & Segalowitz, 2012). Learning differences are also related to genetics, temperament and environment (Thierry, 2008). As child born it has a function govern like their heartbeats, eating and sleeping.

Infant development is inseparable from the progression of the infant’s relationship with caregivers. Contemporary accounts of the early comments highlighted the role of parents and other guardians in supporting infants gradually (Lyons-Ruth & Zeanah, 1993). This is because the infant needs parents who can help her negotiate the developmental task. Thus, there are 4 stages to develop which is birth to 4 weeks, age 1 to 3 months, 3 to 6 months and 6 to 12 months.

Technological advances in the past decade have allowed scientists to study the brain in ways that have led to new understanding about how young children develop. There is a new understanding of both the capabilities and the vulnerabilities of infants and young children and that understanding is has influenced the work of caregivers and teachers. During pregnancy, the basic architecture of the brain is formed. Although, certain experiences do influence the developing brain during pregnancy, such as maternal health and stress, intake of drugs and/or alcohol, and quality of maternal nutrition.

Brain development is very critical in the early stages of life. The brain begins to form very early in prenatal life, however, brain development is a life marathon not a sprint. This is why brain development and emergent literacy belongs together like peanut butter and jelly. Emergent literacy is a gradual process that takes place over time from birth; until a child can read and write in what we consider to be a conventional sense (Machado, 2013). Infants almost immediately communicate with their mother after birth, their bond initially begins when the mother holds them for the first time making eye contact; this is called gaze coupling. As the child brain develops over the next few weeks the mother and baby become attached. Making eye

Infants go through different developmental stages. It is a part of the human life cycle. The beginning stages of an infant’s life is the most developing (Payne & Issacs, 2012). One of the stages that infant go through is the Late Infancy Stage. During the Late Infancy Stage, infants between 7-9 months reach many different milestones. As the infant grows and becomes aware of their surrounding the more developed they become. Infants discover new things daily and it is important to support their growth. Late Infancy stage involves the gross motor, fine motor, oral- motor, cognitive language, personal and social

When I saw the images of the normal and extremely neglected brain of those 3-year olds I could believe it. I knew that the love and care of a mother was important, but I had no idea it could have such a profound effect on the development of a babies brain. It really is amazing how something so small can have such a big effect on a child.

A significant element in a child’s life is a relationship with their parent and central to this is the aspect of infant-mother bond (Cook, 1999). Parents play a critical role in modeling the adult lives of their children. A research on early brain development revealed that early intervention of warm and receptive care given to children is critical for their growth. It is vital to encourage and offer optimum care for the young children. The way a child is nurtured is a factor in their early brain development. Positive nurturing care and love towards children in their infanthood up to around 6 years results in a positive brain growth (Tribble, 2012). With both parents working, adverse effects on child development may be experienced. Children

Cognitively, the way infants process information undergoes rapid changes during the infant’s first year. For instance, the Piagetian theory of cognitive development includes (1) the sensorimotor stage in which infants, through trial an error, build their understanding of things around the world (e.g. imitation of familiar behaviour); (p. 203, Chapter 6); (2) building schemas (e.g. a 5 month old child can move or drop an object fairly rigidly, whereas an older child can do the same action but with more intentional and creative movement);(p. 202, Chapter 6) and (3) the concept of object permanence (e.g. an infant knows that an object exists even though it is hidden encourages the child’s perceptual skills and awareness of the objects ‘realness’ in the world (p.

After reading chapter 6, I decided to discuss how infants learn focusing on their cognitive development. Cognitive development focuses on four stages. The stages consist of the sensorimotor stage, preoperational stage, concrete operational sage, and lastly the formal operational stage. In regards to infants being able to learn, I am going to tune into the first stage. The sensorimotor stage is where the infant constructs an understanding of the world by coordinating sensory experiences with physical actions. An infant progresses from reflexive, instinctual action at birth to the beginning of symbolic thought toward the end of the stage (Santrock p. 21).

a, J., & Lehtonen, L. (2015). Smoking during pregnancy affects foetal brain development. Acta Paediatrica, 104(1), 12-18. doi:10.1111/apa.12791

Smoking during pregnancy has also been linked to child behavioral problems. Our text tells us that studies suggest exposure to tobacco can have long-term effects on children’s cognitive and social development. The studies show that there were higher rates of learning problems. There was also antisocial behavior among the children whose mothers smoked while being pregnant.

Healthy brain development in infants is critical during the first few moths of life. Infant brain development is a process which depends on endogenous and exogenous stimulation and a supportive environment (Marshall, 2011). During the third trimester, a critical period of brain and neurosensory development occurs as well as the first three months of a baby’s life. If not provided, infants may suffer the consequences of permanent deficits in the developing neurosensory systems as a result of disruption, damage, or deprivation in a social and physical environment. Marshall (2011) provides reconmendations for caregivers to improve infant’s developmenting brain while providing appropriate developmental stimulation and support.

A newborns brain growth is rapid and their growth and development reflects their experiences and social relationships (Berger,2014). From two weeks after conception until two weeks after birth the brain grows more rapidly than any other organ in the body (Berger,2014). We will now examine what biologically takes place inside the brain of an infant to better try to understand why development at this stage is so crucial. A newborns brain has billions of neurons, that are located in the portion of the brain called the Cortex, and they regulate and control thought, feeling, and sensation (Berger, 2014). In addition, research has found that children younger than

Advancement made in regard to cognitive neuroscience has enabled a better understanding of the cognitive processes in infants. Studies have indicated that cognitive development in infants starts before they are born. In the eighth week of pregnancy, fetuses have the ability to hear. They become accustomed to their

I. I’m sure we can all relate to the moment when you first meet a new-born, infant or even toddler and all you can say is “Awh how cute he or she is”, and how much you just want to pinch those chubby cheeks or tickle those little toes.