INFANT BRAIN DEVELOPMENT & THE IMPORTANCE OF A STIMULATING ENVIRONMENT

Transcription

1 INFANT BRAIN DEVELOPMENT & THE IMPORTANCE OF A STIMULATING ENVIRONMENT Presented by: Natalie Léveiller RECE Christine Richer &

2 EARLY STAGES OF BRAIN DEVELOPMENT The brain & nervous system contains billions of interconnected neurons. Neurons form trillions of pathways and connections. The number and organization of these connections influence everything: from the ability to recognize letters to the ability to maintain relationships. Neurons develop rapidly before birth.

3 EARLY STAGES OF BRAIN DEVELOPMENT( CONT.) At birth, infants have all or most of the brain cells they will ever acquire. Connections have to be built. Between birth and 8 months synapses form rapidly. 1 neuron can connect with other neurons. By the age of 3 months, the infant has more than trillions synapses.

4 EARLY STAGES OF BRAIN DEVELOPMENT( CONT.) In the first 3 years, we see the most rapid changes due to the bombardment of experiences. Infants have twice as many connections as adults. We build the foundations of everything that follows. Early childhood experiences physically determine how the brain is wired.

5 EARLY STAGES OF BRAIN DEVELOPMENT( CONT.) Early sensory experiences create new synapses. The repetition of experiences strengthen the connections of the synapses. The synapses that aren't used slowly disappear. New synapses grow throughout life.

6 INFANT DEVELOPMENT In the first three years the brain shapes itself in ways that are vitally important for their future development. Infants develop from proximal to distal (belly button out). There is optimum time to initiated certain learning experiences. Proper stimulation and nurturing is key.

7 INFANT DEVELOPMENT (CONT.) At birth, the brain possesses 25% of its adult brain mass. By the age of 1, it has 2/3 of its mass and by the age of 3 it possesses 70%. A 3 month old infant can distinguish primary colours and can prefer red and yellow over blue and green. Tummy time is important because it allows infants to strengthen their backs, necks shoulders muscles and teaches them to hold their heads up. This allows them to develop skills that will help them later, (coordination, crawling and further learning).

8 INFANT DEVELOPMENT (CONT.) By laying on the floor and interacting with your infants, you are building connections. You can gradually increase the frequency and duration of your activity. Interaction among children is a fundamental social experience that is important in the first years of life. Infants learn through movement. (Sensorimotor).

9 INFANT DEVELOPMENT (CONT.) As Maslow tells us: we need to meet the children s basic needs before we can meet the psychological needs.

10 INFANT DEVELOPMENT (CONT) As educators, we are there to guide the child in their development (scaffolding). Lev Vygotsky explains his theory of the zone of proximal development.

11 IMPORTANCE OF RELATIONSHIPS Positive ways to nurture a child s brain is through relationships. Research states that building relationships is very important: it is an active ingredient in healthy development, especially brain development. Ways to build positive relationships: -Playing with them on the ground, -Listening and responding to their cues, -Having a language rich environment, -Meeting the child's needs. (Maslow) When an adult offers and utilises materials with a child, they are building relationships that are playful, exploratory, loving, surprising and that are rich in language.

12 LANGUAGE Communication is important. By 3 months, the brain has a potential to distinguish several hundred spoken sounds. It takes a year for the physical aspects of speech to develop but we can still engage in conversation from birth. Repetition and imitation is key.

13 LANGUAGE (CONT.) Describe everything that you do. Different types of communication: verbal and non verbal. Non verbal signs (depending on age): eye contact, imitation, waiting, showing hands, finger pointing, leaning in, facial expressions. Verbal signs (depending on age): sounds, imitation of sounds.

14 LANGUAGE (CONT.) As children ages, it is important to emphasize their vocabulary. Research shows that if there is a lack of language exchange with primary caregivers it can have a major impact on the child's cognitive, linguistic, emotional, social and moral development. Research tells us that: the number of words an infant hears each day is the single most important predictor of later intelligence, school success and social competence.

15 ENVIRONMENT The document Think, Feel, Act tells us: If our environment is designed to eliminate all risks, by not allowing access to breakable items or physical challenges, how can children learn to exercise self control & become aware of their own actions?

16 ENVIRONEMENT (CONT.) Your room should reflect your image of the child. Children learn by interacting with their environment. When we recognize our environment as the third teacher we are able to make better changes based on our observations.

17 ENVIRONMENT (CONT) It is important to have an aesthetically pleasing environment. Things to consider when setting up your environment: - Your image of the child, - Each child is unique, - Level of development of the children in your room. Include materials that will support investigation.

18 ENVIRONMENT (CONT) Watch where your infant stares. It is important to have a strategy as to where you will place some materials. No shelf. In the Think, Feel, Act it tells us: Spaces speak, beauty is the voice that calls the child to engage with the materials & elevates him to a higher level of grace and courtesy as he interacts in his environment.

19 MATERIALS Who takes the time to introduce materials to the infants? It is important to introduce materials even to infants. When first introducing materials you need to emphasize the vocabulary. Material properties are a powerful stimulants. Infants are drawn by: appearance, size, shape, colour, texture, sound, the behaviour of the objects and taste.

20 MATERIALS (CONT) Materials should be stimulating, meet the children s interests and be able to sustain their attention. Open ended materials are important.

21 ACTIVITIES Infants learn through their 5 senses. There are many factors that affect the outcome of your activities: -Time, -Mood of the child, -Length, -Location.

22 ACTIVITIES (CONT) Activities don t need to be complex. Your activities are intentional and have a purpose. They are based on your observations. When engaged in activities repetitively, children form strong ideas about how the world around them works.

23 ACTIVITIES (CONT) A heuristic basket is a basket that you fill with non hazardous items for your child to explore. They can explore and investigate to develop their own understanding and knowledge. While exploring children are storing and retaining information about texture, taste, sound, appearance and scent. It enables a child to independently play and explore.

24 ACTIVITIES (CONT) Use simple materials that are available to you.

25 RESSOURCES

26 Questions