Katielynn+W

// The most important period of life is not the age of university studies, but the first one, the period from birth to the age of six. // - Maria Montessori
 * __ ​ Brain Development __**[[image:http://www.illustratorworld.com/users/H/Hu/Huan/a5255.jpg width="362" height="272" align="right"]]

-Fun Facts- - During brain development, 250,000 neurons are added every minute. - At birth, almost all the neurons that the brain will ever need are present. - By the age of 2 years old, the brain is about 80% of the adult size.

 The Brain is made up of neurons that send messages across synapses  - Neurons and synapses create pathways that form “wiring” of the brain  There are no new neurons formed after birth  It is an ongoing process of wiring and re-wiring the neurons  New synapses are being formed and others are broken Brain grows in order-top to bottom, least complex (brain stem) to more complex (cortex)
 * The Brain's Development **

Storing and Transferring Information - Why this is all important! Neurons (nerve cells that store and transfer information) send messages by releasing chemicals that jump across the synapses (the tiny spaces betweenthe neuron fibers) from one neuron fiber to the next. By the time we are born, we have all the neurons we will ever have. However, the fibers that reach out from the neurons and the synapses between the fiber ends do increase during the first years of life, possilby till adolescence. Neurons that are stimulated and used continue to add new synapses, making new connections, but unstimilated neurons lose connections and die off. Early stimulation is important for humans. It is clear that extreme deprivation of stimulation can have negative effects on brain development, but this does not mean that extra stimulation will improve development in young children who are getting adequate or typical amounts of stimulation.



Images of the Brain's Development

General Principles of Development: - People develop at different rates - Development is relatively orderly - Development takes place gradually

- Important Theorists - [|Jean Piaget] - Known for his four stages of Cognitive Development (Sensorimotor, Preoperational, Concrete operational & Formal Operational) [|Lev Vygotsky] - Known for his Sociocultural Theory (Zone of Proximal Development, Scaffolding, Private Speech) [|Erik Erikson] - Known for his 8 stages of Psychosocial Development [|B.F. Skinner] - Known for the use of Reinforcement vs. Punishment [|Urie Bronfrebrenner] - Known for his Ecological Theory of development

- What Parents Can Do To Stimulate Brain Growth in Their Child -
 * Hold your baby.
 * Play with your baby.
 * Rock your baby.
 * Sing to your baby.
 * <span style="color: #800080; display: block; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 130%; text-align: center;">Talk to your baby.
 * <span style="color: #800080; display: block; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 130%; text-align: center;">Most imporant, enjoy and respect your baby for who they are as an individual.
 * <span style="color: #cc3333; display: block; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 130%; text-align: center;">Children learn through a “give and take” in the context of important relationships with adults. Warm, responsive caregiving is essential to healthy brain development

References Boeree, G. (2006) Personality theories: Jean piaget. Retrieved From: [] Boeree, G. (2006). Personality theories: B.F. skinner. Retrieved From: [] Dahms, M., Geonnotti, K., Passalacqua, D., Schilk, J.N., Wetzel, A., & Zulkowsky, M. (2008) The educational theory of lev vygotsky. Retrieved from: [] Dunn,D. (2009) //Growing child//. Retrieved from []

Gable, S. (2008). //Nature, nurture and early brain development//. Retrieved from: <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;">[]

Hallahan, D.P & Kauffman, J.M. (2006) Exceptional learners: An introduction to special education: 3rd edition. USA: Pearson Inc.

Harder, A. F. (2009) Learning place online: The developmental stages of erik erikson. Retrieved From: [] Howard, V.F., Williams, B. & Lepper. C.E. (2005) Very young children with special needs: A formative approach for today's children: 3rd edition. New Jersey: Pearson Inc.

Woolfolk, A. (2001). //Educational psychology:// 8th edition//.// Boston, MA: Pearson Education Company

Personality Theories. Retrieved from [] Urie Bronfrebrenner. Retrieved From: __http://www.des.emory.edu/mfp/302/302bron.PDF__