Strategy: A mobile, helping them move their legs back and forth and placing a cool toy by them.…
Every day teachers struggle to find effective tools for helping children use their brains to their greatest capacity. In a sense, both groups are focusing on different aspects of the same issues. It seems logical that science might offer some clues to guide educators -- and that educators might ask questions that suggest fruitful areas for scientific inquiry. Oddly, discourse between the two groups has been virtually nonexistent. Neuroscience has provided fascinating glimpses into the brain's development and function. Scientists now believe the structures that control perception; action and cognition develop at the same time -- not sequentially, as was previously believed. What is clear, though, is that early stimulation helps a child develop. At the same time, while much of the brain's basic equipment is in place at birth and its neural connections continue to form during the first few years of life, a great deal of plasticity exists in its cognitive and intellectual development. Such findings suggest that an enriched home and school environment can help make the most of each child's mental capacities. (Internet-www.ecs.org Education Commission of the States and the Charles A. Dana Foundation…
Child development is a process involving developmental milestones during predictable time periods. Brain maturation lays the foundation for all other aspects of a child’s development. Growth and development of the brain is rapid, exceedingly complex, and influenced by a combination of maternal environment and genetics (Marotz, p28). This paper will include the developmental characteristics/milestones of preschoolers, appropriate activities that will enhance their cognitive, motor, social, emotional, and language development, and how the activities will enhance their development.…
In today’s world we live our lives constantly wondering what we can do to better ourselves or our children. When in fact we should be concerned with what we didn’t do already. Pet scans and other research show that from birth to age 6 are the most crucial years for brain development. At just the age of three, a child’s brain is twice as active as the average adult brain and it stays that way for the first decade of life. With the world at its most competitive period, we want our children to be as logical and knowledgeable as possible. Preschools are a great way to focus on the essential components that allow a child’s brain to develop. Even though some parents treat preschool as a baby sitter, they may be missing the bigger picture that these great facilities are making.…
I believe that each child, infant, toddler and older, are each unique and has the potential to leave their own mark on the world. My philosophy would be to provide a stimulating atmosphere in which infants and toddlers can grow and mature in many areas including emotionally, physically, socially, and intellectually while in a safe environment. This environment will not only be safe, it will allow children’s curiosity to direct their learning, promote respect for things and people, and help the teacher guide the children.…
Early childhood education programs provide parents with an opportunity, the opportunity to give their child a head start in social, cognitive, and motor development. This head start can prepare a child for kindergarten and the future grade levels. According to the National Academy Press (2000) children come into the world eager to learn; the first five years of life are a time of enormous growth of linguistic, conceptual, social, emotional, and motor competence. This essay will address questions that support early childhood education programs, such as discussing the trend, research, and analysis which supports the programs.…
The most crucial time in the life of a child is during the period of Infancy and toddler. During this important time of the lifespan of the child, a critical and rapid emotional and cognitive development cycle is in action in conjunction with the usual physical development cycles. Cognitive developments primary role is to gather data, process it and effectively apply that data as the child ages. Development cycles in cognition and physical arenas demand interaction in their surrounding environment and interactions with other individuals such as siblings, parents, or their peers. Infants have an intrinsic capability to interact with and engage their environments including individuals in…
At preschool age, children are learning many cognitive skills to prepare them for kindergarten. For some educators, it is natural to dismiss the importance of play at this age and spend more time on structured, teacher directed lessons. There are other educators who feel that preschoolers are too young and immature to handle such rigorous work as reading, writing and arithmetic, so they provided an environment that is all play with very little cognitive learning. I believe that the best environment for preschoolers is one that consists of some cognitive lessons and much developmentally appropriate play. At this age, I believe that play should be the majority of a child's day…
Siegel & Bryson textbook, The Whole-Brain Child, discusses many great ways a parent can learn to understand how a child’s brain develops to help prime, nurture, and develop healthier mind skills (Siegel & Bryson, 2011). Nonetheless, this is an easy guide and a view on brain development that is fascinating, interesting, and full of great highlights of how the brain functions and develops from birth to adulthood. The imminent question is will I consider using this book as a personal guide to help raise my children or while counseling children—the answer is yes and no. As a Christian mother of two children and through my work experience as a former preschool Director-teacher of over 12 years I learned how…
Caring for toddlers and infants is mainly about building relationships and making the best out of daily routines and new experiences. Infants and toddlers learn about themselves and the environment around them by interactions with others. The brain connections that lead to future success come from affectionate, loving and supportive care. This type of caregiving leads to a child’s curiosity, creativity, and most importantly their self-confidence. To develop and keep important synapses in the brain children need a safe,…
Nelson Mandela once said, “Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.” Early learning education is a far greater tool for success. (The Importance of Early Childhood Education, par. 1) Studies have shown that a child’s earliest years of development are the most critical with 85% of the brain developing by age five. Since children are most receptive to information during this time, early learning exposure plays an essential role in fostering mental development. The years prior to kindergarten are critical in shaping key academic, social, and cognitive skills that determine a child’s success in school and life. A high-quality early learning program can help children arrive in kindergarten ready to succeed.…
There has been a great deal of research conducted in the subject matter of early childhood education. During the preschool years, the human brain is growing rapidly and extremely sensitive to new information. Researchers have conducted studies in an effort to show a correlation between enrollment in early education and cognitive and social development. This paper will provide a brief overview of the results from the following: the Head Start program studies, the High/Scope Perry Preschool study, and the Child Parent Center in Chicago. This paper will also discuss the impact of childcare facilities on child development. The vast amount of research provided by these studies effectively shows an increase in cognitive development in the preschoolers that were enrolled and found that negative social behaviors were reduced as a result of early education intervention. The research indicates that all children exhibited signs of cognitive and social growth, but that underprivileged children were impacted the most. Child- care facilities were not as productive furthering childhood development. This paper will conclude by addressing the need of well-developed preschool programs and the need for well-educated teachers in the preschool environment.…
Rushton, S. (2010). Neuroscience, Play and Early Childhood Education: Connections, Implications and Assessment. Early Childhood Education Journal, 37(5), 351-361. Retrieved from Kaplan Library.…
There has been increasing evidence that environmental factors play an important role in the process of gene expression (Fox, Levitt & Nelson, 2010). These experiences can enhance or inhibit neural connectivity in what is called sensitive periods (key developmental stages) that in return can have a relation with brain development. Moreover, this paper will present how early experiences can influence the brain architecture. Specifically, the effects that early paternal and/or maternal deprivation, and neglect can have on the brain development in early childhood.…
Parents have always wanted the best for their babies, but now it seems there really are a much more focused attempt, and more worry and concern about doing the right thing to encourage baby's growth and development, particularly brain development. While a portion of a baby's 100 billion brain cells are prewired at birth mostly the ones connected to breathing, heartbeat, and other physiological survival functions, it is during the first five years of life that much of the essential wiring linked to learning is laid down.…