Have you seen a toddler who is so good at effortlessly learning things, isn’t that amusing? Maybe you might have noticed a toddler figuring out a complex puzzle or learning how to play piano and they do it so simply, I’m saying this again EFFORTLESSLY. How do they do it?
This ability that they have is an incredible growth and development phase that’s happening within their brain during the first five years of their life and is the reason why they can learn everything so smoothly.
You can say this period is the “Golden Era” where the brain builds the foundation for the rest of its life.
In the first five years, the brain is usually busy constructing neurons and connections which will help with thinking, building emotions, movement of the body, and understanding language, etc.
This is an important process that empowers us to create an environment that helps in brain development in our children.
The Spectacle of Growth
When a newborn baby is born, they have all the neurons they will ever need in their entire life. But its size is comparatively smaller than an adult brain - around 25%. In the first year, the brain goes on a growth spurt, doubling in size! It continues to grow and its size increases by almost 80% when the child reaches age 3, by age 5 it grows almost 90%.
While the number of neurons remains the same, the connections between them (synapses) are the real stars of the show. The more connections a certain pathway has, the more efficient it becomes for them for a specific task.
But you must be thinking about how these connections grow.
Let me clear that out for you, let’s assume your baby loves to explore each and every corner of the house, just figuring out things, putting them in their mouth, opening them, chewing them - this act of exploration helps them in creating more pathways of connections in their brain. This is the reason why we should never deny them for exploring the nooks and corners of nature, but simply redirect them to something more safe.
The Power of Experience
Keep in mind that the way these connections are formed is majorly influenced by the child’s experiences. The quality of interactions with parents, caregivers, and the environment plays an important role in the development of these neuron connections. Let’s learn some tips and tricks to nurture this process in a beautiful way:
Embracing Languages: Reading, talking, and singing to your child are some of the best things that you could do for their brain development. Language exposure helps them build important connections for communication, and literacy, and yes cognitive skills increase too. Talk to them about your day-to-day activities, intricately describe to them what you see, hear, and feel, and engage in a playful conversation with them. The more words your child hears, the better connections in their brain can form in these language areas.
Playing: Playing is an essential part of their brain development. It gives them the opportunity for your child to discover new things, be creative with them, and a chance to explore the unknown. It helps them more than we can ever imagine. This can include legos, building blocks, sensory play, or simply exploring the wonders of nature. Playing is an amazing activity that stimulates a thoughtfulness of their brain regions, it helps them in cognitive skills development, problem-solving, and critical thinking.
Caregiving: Your warm interactions with your child build a sense of security and trust which is essential for their healthy brain development. Meeting their needs for comfort, love, and attention lays the foundation for emotional well-being and future relationships. Offer them cuddles, hugs, and soothing words, and create a safe space for them in an environment where they feel loved and supported.
Magic of Food: The brain needs proper nutrition too, just like any other organ. A healthy diet rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and lean protein provides the building blocks for brain cells and connections. Avoid sugary drinks and yes processed foods. Focus on offering a variety of nutritious food to fuel your child’s growing brain.
Avoid screen time: The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends avoiding screen time for children under 18 months and limiting it to one hour of high-quality programming for 2-5-year-olds. Some educational apps and shows might have some benefits, but excessive screen time can displace important interactions and hinder your child’s brain development. Keep your focus on engaging your child in real-world play and social interactions for optimal brain growth.
Action Steps for Parents
Here are some practical tips to put all these concepts into day-to-day actions:
For Language Development: Encourage your child to speak, babble, imitate, or respond in any way that their brain starts to connect the dots and try to learn the art of communication. Make them feel enthusiastic about every interaction you have with them.
For Playful Exploration: Buy them some toys like legos, and paints. It’s important to take them outside in nature, and let them explore the world, by exploring I mean avoid stopping them when they are out in nature. Their brain develops when they interact with every element that is present in nature.
For Responsive Caregiving: Smile and talk to your baby, when they cry, respond to them promptly, and comfort them with hugs and cuddles, supportive words, and just the magic of affection. Make a routine for them to have consistent meals and sleep just for a sense of security.
For Fueling the Brain: Once your baby starts to eat solid foods, offer them colorful fruits and vegetables that are rich in antioxidants and vitamins. Try including whole grains like Quinoa or brown rice for energy. Choose lean protein that comes from fish, chicken, or beans for better brain development.
Remember, small changes can make a massive difference. By incorporating these tips into your daily routine, you can create a nurturing environment that fosters healthy brain development in your child.
The Enduring Impact
Now you must have known in-depth that the first five years are the foundational period for your baby’s future. Whatever they feel in this period of time, they store those emotions, and feelings in themselves as the foundational stage and let it play for the rest of their life. Hence, it is crucial for us to understand that the more positive experiences they get in this period, the better it will be for them.
It helps them in their emotional well-being as well as their cognitive skills. The more exploring they become the more academic success they will see in later life along with better physical health. It is in our hands that we make informed better choices and create a healthy environment where our children thrive.
At La Casita Day School, we nurture curious minds! We're one of the first preschools in Santa Rosa offering toddler programs for children aged 2-7. We believe in fostering a love of learning through engaging activities that cater to your child's individual interests. Let your child blossom at La Casita Day School!
For more information, please visit our website at https://www.lacasitadayschool.com/
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