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= = = Brain Development in Early Childhood Wiki = ** Directions: Each student will develop a page that outlines important details related to brain development in early childhood. Consider the following questions as you create your page and use your course textbook, pictures, the internet, the library, articles, videos, etc. etc. to find, and display your information. The questions should serve as a guide rather than a list that must be addressed point by point. Remember to highlight two important themes (1) linking research to practice and (2) the evolution of our practice over time. Be creative and teach us something new! ** Almost every early childhood course will address the issue of brain development in some capacity. Why? What is so important about brain development in the early childhood years?

How does knowledge of brain development support our understanding of all other areas of concern (i.e. developmental and content areas)?

What is a critical/sensitive period and why is it important for us to know? Are there any areas of development more affected by a sensitive period than others?

What do we know about supporting healthy brain development in (a) birth to three, (b) three to five, and (c) six to eight year old children? How does brain development differ during each stage? How is it the same?

How has our understanding of brain development changed over time? When and how did researchers begin to reveal the inner workings of the human brain? What kind of research did they use?

How have our beliefs about brain development affected our teaching and caregiving practices over the years? What are some specific examples or illustrations of these changes over time?