The Importance of Early Brain Development

Esteemed authorities such a Bruce A. Epstein and Jan

Mandernach, who specialize in the field of medicine , agree that these are key factors to

encouraging the utmost growth in a child’s brain. Scientific studies have been delving

into the key factors or brain development for nearly thirty years. These studies confirm

that there are many things that parents can do to encourage a phenomenal increase of their

child’s capacity for knowledge and ability to learn Several of these findings will be cited

in this report.

The Importance of Early Brain Development

The vast majority of human brain development occurs between the ages of zero to

three years. (Gable & Hunting, 2001, 1)

Due to this, it is of great importance that parents

attempt to stimulate their child’s mind from, or even before birth. The reason for this is

as follows: “At birth the human brain is still preparing for full operation. The brain’s

neurons exist mostly apart from another. The brain’s task for the first three years is to

establish connections with other neurons. These connections are formed when impulses

are sent and received between neurons. Axons send messages and dendrites receive

them. These connections form synapses. As a child develops, the synapses become more

complex, like a tree with more branches and limbs growing.” (Gable and Hunting, 2001,

1) It is extremely important that parents start reading to and playing with their children at

birth. As simple as these experiences are, they do make a large difference in the growth

of a child’s brain. Scientists have found that by the time a child reaches the age of three,

eighty five to ninety percent of the brain mass that will take them into adulthood has

already been produced. (Brain Paper, 2002, 3) In other words; the emotional and

learning experiences a child of three encounters could color their perspective of all

emotional and learning experiences throughout their adult life. (Brain Paper, 2002, 3)

This report will cover the questions infants and toddlers need answers to in the first years

of life.

They are the following: 

“* Do people respond to me?

* Can I depend on other people when I need them?

* Am I important to others?

* Am I competent?

* How should I behave?

* Do other people enjoy being with me?

* What should I be afraid of?

* Is it safe for me to show how I feel?

* What things interest me? (Gable & Hunting, 2001, 3)

Many caretakers do not realize the responsibility they hold when it comes to

molding the mind of a child. It is a monumental task to help a toddler answer the above

questions. If a caretaker fails to do so, it could be very detrimental to a child’s mental

health, growth, and functions. The results of this process will stay with a child his/her

entire life.

“Every baby is born with about one hundred billion neurons. Neurons are the

special cells responsible for most brain functions, such as thinking, seeing, and feeling.

We currently believe that those one hundred billion neurons are all you get, few or none

of them are produced later in life.” (Brain Paper, 2002, 1)

In other words it is

notoriously important that you give your child the maximum stimulation possible. If this

does not transpire, parts of a child’s mind that could be otherwise stalwart will be lost

forever. R.D. Lund, in his book Development and Plasticity of the Brain recognizes this 

as well. He discusses a study involving baby birds who have had their eyes sewn shut.

(This study was also attempted on kittens.) In this study, it was found that upon the

removal of the stitches from the bird’s eyes once they reached maturity, that they suffered

from severe blindness. Scientists later found that this was due to lack of visual input that

the birds received. Therefore, scientists formed the hypothesis that if certain senses or

parts of the brain remain unstimulated they will develop poorly, or not at all, resulting in

the destruction of neurons that will never reproduce themselves. Due to the forever

expanding knowledge gained by experts in the medical field, this hypothesis has been

tested upon young children and proven true.

It has been said by Claudia Quigg that “An

infant’s experiences actually develop his brain. Sensory experiences (hearing, seeing,

touching, feeling, tasting) actually teach brain cells their jobs. A lack of such sensory

experiences results in brain cells failing to make connections and eventually dying off.”

The point made by these scientists validates a truth which has long been suspected; that a

child’s environment greatly impacts his/her development.

“Another important finding of one study details the effect of a stressful

environment on infants and toddlers. Young children exposed to a steady diet of stress

lay down abnormal connectors in their brains because of high levels of stress hormones

such as cortical and adrenaline.” (Quigg, 2002, 1) The abnormal connectors formed by

these hormones make a brain which is wired more for violence, the fight or flight

syndrome, or other inappropriate actions. (Quigg, 2002, 2) Studies have also found that

poor families are more likely to have stress related incidents and provide an environment that encumbers proper brain development. “Poverty often means inadequate access to

quality childcare, stressful family relations, and environments lacking in crucial stimuli,

all of which can have a negative impact.” (Brain Paper, 2002, 3.)

Current government

programs are working to ensure that children of those who live in poverty receive as

much funding as possible, so that they stand a better chance once they enter society as

adults. Though the government does offer some helpful programs, the best hope a child

has lies within the arms of a loving, responsible, knowledgeable caretaker.

A knowledgeable caretaker knows that the following must be provided for a

young child:

“* A child needs to feel safe

* All children need to know they are special

* A child needs to feel confident about what to expect from his environment

* A child needs discipline

* A child needs a balanced experience of freedom and limits

* A child needs to be exposed to a diverse environment filled with books, music, and

appropriate toys” (Epstein, 2002, 1-2)

Many people believe (Parents in particular!) that scientists are making a molehill

into a mountain when it comes to the topic and importance of child development. A

question reasonable asked by many is “Can parent’s/caretaker’s really afford to take the

chance and risk their child’s future?” If a young child is given every chance to succeed

by their caretaker from birth, who is to say exactly how far he/she can go, or what he/she 

can accomplish in our fast paced world?