The Stages of Brain Development in Early Childhood Education

Jul 21

“Early childhood” is considered birth to eight years old. Through experiences during this time, children’s brains are built and grow through touch, talk, sight, and sound. They are strengthened through regular interaction and stimulation in the home and quality, early learning settings.

During these first few years, their brain develops more than any other time of life. In fact, one million new neural connections are made every second. Accordingly, it has a lasting impact on a person’s ability to learn and succeed.

Read on to learn more about early brain development, why it’s important, development milestones and more.

Why Is Early Brain Development Critical?

During the first five years of life, a child’s brain is at its most flexible, making this a critical period for learning and growth. Children’s brains develop in spurts called “critical periods.” They have twice as many synapses as adults (where learning occurs), so they are able to learn faster at this point than at any other time in life.

In fact, 90% of brain development is completed in this time. Brain connections are built through everyday experiences. The amount and quality of care, stimulation, and interaction in these years makes a significant difference in the child’s life.

According to a study from NIH, children who face adversity in the first five years of life are at a higher risk for experiencing lifelong effects from toxic stress. Stress can lead to damage to a child’s brain architecture, which could manifest in problems with learning, behavior, or physical or mental health.

Early Development Milestones

Ante-natal: At this point, the brain has already started developing. All five senses begin to function before birth. Prenatal sensory experiences help to start shaping the brain and nervous system, which is why some experts encourage reading out loud and listening to classical music during pregnancy.
Five weeks: Babies are already starting to develop the ability to learn and remember.
Two to six months: Significant “wiring” of the brain through experiences and relationships they are exposed to begins at this point. Babies are starting to learn emotions through observing their parents and caregivers and how they react to different situations.
Six to nine months: Children start to learn and develop large motor skills like sitting, crawling, standing, and walking. They are creating millions of connections between what they see, hear, feel, and taste. Playtime and interactions with parents and family provide key learning opportunities during these months.
One to three years: Children start to develop their speech during this time. At this point, they have nearly 1,000 trillion brain connections that continue to be fostered by positive relationships and positive child community environments. They also start developing fine motor skills like coloring, cutting with scissors, painting, pasting and gluing, turning the pages of a book, and writing.
Three to five years: It gets more difficult for children to take advantage of some environments, such as school, if they haven’t had optimal learning experiences before this point or a nurturing home environment. Continuing rich educational and social experiences during these years can help enforce continued brain development.
Adolescence: Brain connections continue to grow and develop. By now, children have about 500 trillion connections, and they are starting to prioritize the connections they use most often. That’s why experiences and learning are so critical before now – they must have the right connections to be successful and happy throughout their lives.

Parenting For Early Brain Development

What parents do or don’t do during these formative years can have a profound impact on a child’s healthy physical and mental development. It’s also important to find good childcare providers and choose a quality preschool or extended care program since your child will also be spending much of their time learning in those environments.

Children learn by watching you and how you react to them when they do things, like coo, cry, smile, yell, etc., so try to be intentional about how you respond to them. Ultimately, it’s critical to provide a safe and caring environment for your child, engaging with them through talking, reading, and playtime.

Community and learning environments can also be key for support, learning opportunities, and social experiences.

Best Practices

There are a few additional ways parents can maximize teaching and learning during these critical periods:

1. Encourage a love of learning. Establish growth mindset early, such as a child’s talent and abilities are developed through effort vs. being fixed. Emphasize persistence, create safe spaces for learning, and show enthusiasm over the process instead of just results.

2. Focus on breadth, not depth. Expose children to a wide variety of activities such as music, reading, sports, math, art, science, and others. This will help encourage long-term well-roundedness since their developing brains are ready to absorb a wide range of skill sets.

3. Encourage emotional intelligence. Teaching and learning should extend to interpersonal skills like kindness, empathy, and teamwork. Help your child label their emotions and tell the story about what made them feel that way. Ask questions and encourage them to consider the feelings of others instead of just focusing on themselves. Also consider including children in what adults do for others so they can learn by watching.

4. Early education is not a precursor to “real” learning. Some skills cannot be learned as well after these critical early periods. Early childhood education should not be optional or a precursor to “real” education. These are in fact the years that matter most, so get your child involved in quality childcare, preschool, and/or other learning activities early.

5. Enroll your child in extended care programs for holistic development: Enrolling your child in an extended care program can offer numerous benefits for their overall development. These programs provide opportunities for socialization, motor skills development, and much more.

Contact Caliday for Quality Maryland Extended Care

When it comes to providing the best before and after school care in Maryland, Caliday is the name you can trust. We understand the crucial role early childhood education plays in brain development and overall growth. That's why our programs are thoughtfully designed to nurture your child's cognitive, social, and emotional development in a safe and stimulating environment.

At Caliday, we believe in the power of early childhood education to shape young minds. We recognize that the early years are a critical period for brain development, as children's brains are highly receptive to learning and absorbing new information. Our programs are designed to optimize this period by providing a range of age-appropriate activities that foster cognitive skills, language development, and problem-solving abilities. Through interactive play, creative exploration, and hands-on learning experiences, we help children build a solid foundation for future social, personal, and academic success.

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