Brain Development

Brain Development During Early Childhood FARHANA KHATANI July 27, 2009

Goal

Explain the significance of early brain development (from conception - 3year of life) in order to support optimal healthy growth of child

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Agenda:      

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Participants Description: •

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Middle class caregivers (mothers, fathers & grand parents)

Duration: •

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Objectives Rational Case study activity Plenary session (PowerPoint presentation) Massages through posters Quiz

6 hours with two tea breaks

Placement: •

Rural community

Objectives

On completion of session the parents will be able to; • • •

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State the rational and the stages of brain development Define the brain development and its principles. Recognize the factors influence on brain development during prenatal and early childhood period (0-8 years) of life Acquire intervention to support healthy brain development.

Rational Recent advances in brain research have provided great insight that early experiences help the brain to develop well, experiences of neglect and abuse can literally cause some genetically normal children to become mentally retarded or to develop serious emotional difficulties. therefore this workshop is planned to provide parents some tips for healthy mind (brain) development

What is brain development 

The brain is the part of the body that allows us to feel joy or despair, to respond to others in a loving or angry way, to use reason or to simply react. These capacities don’t just magically appear – They result from the interplay between a child’s heredity and the experiences they have during childhood.

Scientific Facts Brains are built over time, from the bottom up. The basic architecture of the brain is constructed through an ongoing process that begins before birth and continues into adulthood.

Halfon.N., & et. al. (2001).

Principles of Brain Development

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The brain is comprised of many regions that perform specific functions; such as

identifying what we see, processing spoken language, or assessing whether we are in danger. 

The outside world shapes the brain’s wiring;. through the senses seeing, hearing,

smelling, touching, and tasting – enabling the brain to create or modify connections.

Principles of Brain Development Cont’d 

The brain operates on a “use it or lose it” principle; Connections that are used repeatedly during the child’s early years become the foundation for the brain’s organization and function throughout life.

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Relationships with other people early in life are the major source of development of the emotional and social parts of the brain.

Case Study Salim is a thirty years old businessman and his wife Shazia is twenty six years old house wife. They were married five years back. They had faced so many difficulties in the early years of their marriage regarding financial as well as emotional. Salim was struggling for the bread and butter of the family while Shazia was mal nourished and mentally disturbed. She has to all house hold chores with out any help. She had no moral support during first pregnancy. They have two cute children. Zahra is three years old and Ahmad is one year old. Zahra has learned to walk hardly one year before. She is not a friendly child and never plays with her brother. She feels uncomfortable in new situations. Now a day she is developing the habit of nail biting as well. Ahmad is a friendly child who is achieving the mile stones accurately. Salim and Shazia are living happily now days but some times they get confused that why is Zahra having the problems? 

Do you know the factors behind these behaviors?

Factors affecting on brain development

on

Violence and abuse

Nutriti

& g u Dr ohol Alc

y

Im

s

n xi To

m un it

Infection

Brain Development Component I

Component II

Genetic material

Environment Intra & Extra uterine

Healthy Child

Intervention

Nutrition Safety Warmth

Communication Exploratio Play n Response

Do’s

Don'ts

The attention and support of a kind and interested adult. Child care that is continuous and predictable. A caregiver whom the child likes and trusts. A safe and clean place to play. Physical activity, interesting learning materials and fresh air. Nutritious meals and snacks

Hearing harsh voices or "no" all day. Not being picked up when crying, or listened to when upset. Frequent turnover, what different adults caring for the child in a nonpredictable schedule. A caregiver who is too tired or overwhelmed by caregiving responsibilities, or who does not want to care for children. Drugs, guns or lots of strangers in the environment (or brought into the environment by television). Lack of toys, over-use of television. No attention paid to healthful eating. "Junk food" or candy provided instead of meals

http://www.childcareaware.org/en/subscriptions/dailyparent/volum e.php?id=1

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Scientific facts; brain development is the result of a complex interaction between nature and nurture, means individual inherits and his or her experiences both before and after birth (Halfon. N., et.al. 2001). So pay attention to help shape a young child’s future.

Development "We are guilty of many errors and many faults, but our worst crime is abandoning the children, neglecting the foundation of life. Many of the things we need can wait. The child cannot. Right now is the time his bones are being formed, his blood is being made and his senses are being developed. To him we cannot answer "Tomorrow". His name is "Today"." Gabriela Mistral, 1948

Testing Knowledge!

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Basic brain connections are laid down before birth. True/False Babies are born with the ability to learn all the languages in the world. True/False A human baby's brain has the greatest density of brain cells connectors (synapses) by age 3. True/False Because the brain is making so many connections pre-birth to age 3, the first three years of life are the most critical for brain development. After age 3, the "window of opportunity" closes. True/False Good nutrition is one of the best ways we know to aid healthy brain development. True/False Reading to a newborn infant is the best way to help a child learn to read in the future. True/ False Living in an orphanage as a baby will likely result in negative, long-lasting effects on the brain. There are times when a negative experience or the absence of appropriate stimulation is more likely to have serious and sustained effects on the child.

References: 

Halfon.N., Shulman. E., Hochstein. M., (2001). Building Community Systems; for Young Children Brain Development in Early Childhood. Report for California Children and Families Act.

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Zero to three: Starting smart; how early child hood experience affect brain development

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Acknowledgement Dr. Camer Villani Ms. Sanober Group members

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