Just the other day we were planning a family vacation to celebrate our daughter’s first birthday and a common thought came to mind – “But this trip is mostly for us right? She won’t remember anything!” As I pondered about that, I realized that the point of exposing our children to a variety of experiences early on is not so much to create beautiful memories for them (as it is for us), but to support their developing brain. She won’t remember the trip, but she will explore, laugh, learn to adapt, build trust and most importantly feel loved – all factors that positively affect child development. With 90% of the brain developing by age five, there’s no question that the first years of a child’s life are defining. Check out these five amazing facts about child development!
“Infants have a biological need for love and begin to form emotional bonds with their caregiver at birth”
A lot of parents are concerned about spoiling their babies. But there is not such thing as giving too much love to an infant! Emotional bonds play an important part in your child’s development. Starting from birth, babies learn who they are by how they are treated! (Source: Zero to Three)
“Music plays an important role in building babies’ emotional basis and helping them gain a sense of confidence”
We know that music helps babies develop a variety of skills such as language and math. But it also helps build their confidence! When babies sing songs and dance to rhythms they are having fun and gaining a sense of themselves. Try our Kindermusik class and see it for yourself!
“Stable, caring, interactive relationships with adults will benefit healthy brain development of young children”
It seems that us adults are always looking for ways to change things up but children thrive in routine and stability. The more they know what to expect from you and their environment, the more comfortable and calm they will be. At the same time, the opposite (unstable caregiving, deprivation of love, neglect, etc.) will increase the likelihood of poor health and development throughout their life. (Source: World Health Organization)
“Play is our brain’s favorite way of learning”
As Mister Rogers once explained, “play is often talked about as if it were a relief from serious learning. But for children, play is serious learning. Play is really the work of childhood.” Our home visiting programs provide support and education for pregnant women and families with children under five. Learn more about our programs and apply today to get the best ideas from child development specialists.
“The brain develops most rapidly in the first few years of a child’s life. The ongoing interchange between genes and different environments – within which children are born, grow, learn and live – shapes the developing brain”
Our brains are truly amazing. “During these critical years, the foundation is laid for a child’s physical and mental health, affecting everything from longevity to the lifelong capacity to learn, from the ability to adapt to change to the capacity for resilience against adverse circumstances.” (Source: World Health Organization)
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