Nurturing Little Bodies and Brains: Supporting Brain Development, Learning, and Health for Families

Abstract

The first years of a child’s life are crucial for brain development—more so than any other time in their life. From the moment they enter this world, the clock starts on the critical period of cognitive, emotional, and physical development. The quantity and quality of experiences during this time have a lasting impact on a child’s ability to learn and succeed in school and life. This is supported by decades of research that emphasize the significance of these positive learning experiences.

During the years from birth to age five a child’s brain goes through a significant amount of growth. All of this occurs before kindergarten, with a newborn’s brain doubling in size within the first year and reaching 80 percent of its potential size by age three. Time keeps ticking as the brain connects to long-term learning, adaptability, emotional intelligence, and school readiness. This is where the brain has the potential to create millions of synapses. While genes play a role in determining a brain’s potential and processing capacity, a child’s healthy development and the strength of their synaptic connections depend on healthy and caring relationships. However, an absence of caring relationships, limited access to quality healthcare, and a lack of early learning experiences can have a negative impact on a child’s lifelong health and learning, resulting in long-term effects on their preparation for formal learning environments.