Angela+S

=Brain Development in Early Childhood =





 * ===**What is known about brain development? **===
 * ==="Like much of human development, brain development is the result of a complex interaction between nature and nurture, between the unique genetic code an individual inherits and his or her experiences both before and after birth." (Halfon, 2001, p. 2) ===
 * ===It is very important to make sure that your child has several stimuli to create new experiences. ===
 * ===You must play an active role in your child's life and remain engaged. ===
 * ===Every experiences that the child encounters affects brain development. ===
 * ===It is important for both parents and caregivers to "support optimal brain development during early childhood." (Halfon, 2001, p. 2) ===
 * 1) ===A child's brain is not mature at birth. ===
 * ==="Most of the brain's functional capacity does not develop until after birth, since the synapses connecting the neurons and the myelin insulating them have not yet fully formed. But nearly all of the neurons themselves develop prenatally, so that most of the scaffolding that synaptic connections will be built upon is in place at birth." (Halfon, 2001, p. 3) ===
 * ===As the child gains more experiences, the more his or her brain will develop appropriately. ===
 * 1) ===A child's brain is changed by experience. ===
 * ==="Experiences that stimulate activity in particular regions of the brain facilitate the growth of connections in those regions, so that synapses can be said to form in a "use-dependent" manner." (Halfon, 2001, p. 4) ===
 * ===The experience that the child encounters may change the way he or she interprets or solves a situation. ===
 * 1) ===The timing of experience can be important. ===
 * ==="When a child is born, the brainstem -- the "lowest" region of the brain responsible for basic functions such as heart rate and body temperature regulation -- is immediately wired and stabilized because of its essential role in ensuring survival." (Halfon, 2001, p. 6) ===
 * ===<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #000080; display: block; font-family: Georgia,serif; text-align: left;">Depending on the stage that the child is currently developing could determine how he or she views the experience. ===
 * ===<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #000080; display: block; font-family: Georgia,serif; text-align: left;">"The critical timing issues associated with experience-expectant development of the brain are one of the most important reasons that children require early, prompt and timely access to health services when developmental problems are detected." (Halfon, 2001, pp. 7-8) ===
 * 1) ===<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #000080; display: block; font-family: Georgia,serif; text-align: left;">Relationships influence social and emotional functioning. ===
 * ===<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #000080; display: block; font-family: Georgia,serif; text-align: left;">"We do not know that relationships are among the most important experiences that young children have, and that they have a particularly strong influence on social and emotional functioning." (Halfon, 2001, p. 8) ===
 * ===<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #000080; display: block; font-family: Georgia,serif; text-align: left;">It is hard to determine which experiences may or may not play critical importance in a child's brain development. ===
 * ===<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #000080; display: block; font-family: Georgia,serif; text-align: left;">However, you must not rule any experience out. You must create plenty of learning experiences for your child and have an active learning environment. ===

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 * ===**<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #000080; display: block; font-family: Georgia,serif; text-align: left;">What do parents know about brain development? **===
 * ===<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #000080; display: block; font-family: Georgia,serif; text-align: left;">All parents must realize that the first three years of a child's life are the most critical years in brain development. ===
 * ===<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #000080; display: block; font-family: Georgia,serif; text-align: left;">It has been shown that fathers are unaware of the importance of child brain development as well as individuals with a lower socio-economic status. (Halfon, 2001, p. 11) ===
 * ===<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #000080; display: block; font-family: Georgia,serif; text-align: left;">"Many poor young children are resilient and able to overcome tremendous obstacles but poverty poses serious threats to children's brain development." (NCCP, 1999, p. 1) ===
 * ===<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #000080; display: block; font-family: Georgia,serif; text-align: left;">These risk factors include: Inadequate Nutrition, Substance Abuse, Maternal Depression, Exposure to Environmental Toxins, Trauma/Abuse, and Quality of Daily Care. ===

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 * ===**<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #000080; display: block; font-family: Georgia,serif; text-align: left;">What is known about the risk factors for brain development and functioning? **===
 * ===<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #000080; display: block; font-family: Georgia,serif; text-align: left;">"Since we have seen poor cognitive and social/emotional development can be related to physical and neuroendocrinological changes in the human brain, we might imagine that the development of psychopathology and early school failure are observable outcomes of suboptimal brain development and functioning." (Halfon, 2001, p. 12) ===
 * ===<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #000080; display: block; font-family: Georgia,serif; text-align: left;">You must consider the risk factors and determine the best experiences to engage your child in. ===

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 * ===**<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #000080; display: block; font-family: Georgia,serif; text-align: left;">What is known about protective factors for cognitive and social.emotional development? **===
 * ===<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #000080; display: block; font-family: Georgia,serif; text-align: left;">"Wherever children spend their day, it is important that health, safety and good nutrition are a priority." (Halfon, 2001, p. 13) ===
 * ===<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #000080; display: block; font-family: Georgia,serif; text-align: left;">It is important to be aware of the routine that the caregiver has for your child. ===
 * ===<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #000080; display: block; font-family: Georgia,serif; text-align: left;">It must be appropriate for your child's individual needs. ===
 * ===<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #000080; display: block; font-family: Georgia,serif; text-align: left;">The caregiver should have open communication with you, the parent, and recognize that each child will develop at a different pace. ===
 * ===**<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #000080; display: block; font-family: Georgia,serif; text-align: left;">What is known about the relationship between the science of brain development and ontervention programs for children and families? **===
 * ===<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #000080; display: block; font-family: Georgia,serif; text-align: left;">"Evaluations of interventions -- even those firmly grounded in developmental science -- often show that they do not demonstrate stong impacts on development, or that because the apparent impacts have a long latency, they are not necessarily directly attributed to the intervention." (Halfon, 2001, p. 14) ===
 * ===<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #000080; display: block; font-family: Georgia,serif; text-align: left;">There is still a lot of information that needs to be considered before determining what interventions are successful. ===
 * ===<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #000080; display: block; font-family: Georgia,serif; text-align: left;">This is another area that will vary with each child and must be accommodated to his or her individual needs and abilities. ===
 * ===<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #000080; display: block; font-family: Georgia,serif; text-align: left;">There are several programs available to children and their parents. It is just a matter of finding the right program. ===

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 * ===**<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #000080; display: block; font-family: Georgia,serif; text-align: left;">Important information to remember: **===
 * ===<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #000080; display: block; font-family: Georgia,serif; text-align: left;">"The early years of life are no less important for the child's physical, social and emotional development than the school years." (Halfon, 2001, p. 17) ===
 * ===<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #000080; display: block; font-family: Georgia,serif; text-align: left;">"The first years of life may set the course for all future development." (Halfon, 2001, p. 18) ===
 * ===<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #000080; display: block; font-family: Georgia,serif; text-align: left;">"Early childhood is an investment opportunity for each family, each community, and for our society as a whole." (Halfon, 2001, p. 18) ===

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 * ===**<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #000080; display: block; font-family: Georgia,serif; text-align: left;">References **===
 * ===<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #000080; display: block; font-family: Georgia,serif; text-align: left;">Halfon, N., Shulman, E., & Hochstein, M. (August 2001). Brain development in early childhood. //Building community systems for young children.// UCLA Center for Healthier Children, Families, and Communities. ===
 * ===<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #000080; display: block; font-family: Georgia,serif; text-align: left;">National Center for Children in Poverty (June 1999). Poverty and brain development in early childhood. //NCCP//. New York, New York. ===