Are you juggling career and family? Do you find your free time stretched between your baby and older children? If you think you’re too busy to learn about early education, you’ve come to the right place. Read on to pick up the basics in under 10 minutes…
Why is early learning important?
The period from birth to age eight – and especially, from birth to age three – is critical in the brain development of a child. The first years of life lay the neurological foundation for intellectual growth into adolescence and adulthood. This time represents a unique window of opportunity for learning.
From the moment of conception, the neurons (nerve cells) of the brain multiply faster than any other cells in a baby’s body. The rapid pace of brain development continues into early childhood: at birth, the brain weighs 25 percent of its adult weight; by age one, 50 percent; by age two, 75 percent; and by age three, 90 percent.
The brain has approximately 200 billion neurons. A long-held theory that no new neurons can be created in adulthood was recently overturned – although some scientists dispute the new findings. In any case, the prenatal period is when the vast majority of the brain’s neurons are created.
Each of the brain’s neurons is connected to roughly 5,000 others. In general, the more dendrites (branches between neurons) and synapses (connections between neurons) the brain has, the greater its processing power. More pathways mean information can travel in a number of ways, opening the door to faster and more complex thinking.
This is true in the adult, but not in the infant. Your baby’s brain actually has more neurons and synapses than yours – but only because it hasn’t passed an important developmental stage, known as pruning, in which the brain deletes unneeded neural connections in the interests of organization and efficiency.
“Use it or lose it”
The process of pruning is illustrative of the high plasticity (adaptability) of young brains, which are literally sculpted by the environments in which they are raised. Scientific testing of how exactly experience shapes the brain has led to the theory of “critical periods” – specific time periods in which stimulation must occur, or the chance to develop normal functioning will be lost.
In a now-classic experiment, kittens blindfolded for several months after birth were left unable to see properly once the blindfolds were removed. Their brains had not had the opportunity to develop the neural pathways needed to process visual information. Likewise, babies with cataracts must have them removed within the first few months of life or suffer permanent visual impairment.
Just as a dearth of experience can prove disastrous for the brain, so a surfeit of appropriate stimulation can result in better-than-average neural circuitry. In one study, rat pups were placed in one of two environments – an “enriched” one filled with toys and obstacles, or an “impoverished” one devoid of stimulation. After 80 days, the rats that had been stimulated were found to have brains with a heavier cerebral cortex (the part of the brain that controls memory and perception), larger neurons, and more intricate dendritic networks.
The same principle holds true in humans. Scientists have discovered, for instance, that certain areas of the brain are larger and more developed in children who play musical instruments than in those who do not. These include the cerebellum, which processes rhythm and timing, and the corpus callosum, which acts as the conduit for communication between the brain’s left and right hemispheres – vital for musicians coordinating their right and left hands.
Sowing the seeds of intelligence
Early learning programs such as Head Start in the US are producing measurable cognitive and emotional benefits in children – benefits that can last into middle and even high school. Some of these programs, which focus on helping disadvantaged children, have been shown to produce boosts in IQ equivalent to eight IQ points (with effects of a similar magnitude seen among preschool and kindergarten kids). In general, the younger intervention is staged, the more significant and long-lived the effects. Full-day educational programs for infants have been shown to produce IQ gains lasting into adolescence.
The question is: why only provide such positive stimulation to children from disadvantaged backgrounds?
Many leading childhood development experts believe that we all have far greater potential in our early years than society gives us credit for. Waiting until school to begin providing consistent intellectual stimulation to a child is no disaster. But in doing so, we miss a unique window of opportunity for learning.
So how do you make the most of that window of opportunity in your baby or child’s life? Read on to find out what you can do during pregnancy and after birth…
What can I do during pregnancy?
Your baby’s sense of hearing finishes developing 20 weeks into pregnancy. So this is the time to begin providing auditory stimulation. At around 28 weeks, you and your partner should be able to feel your baby’s movements through Mom’s tummy. This is the time to begin tactile stimulation. You can also try visual stimulation starting from around 28 weeks.
Auditory Stimulation
- Use if you can afford it.
- Play relaxing music – classical, jazz, chill-out and songs designed for meditation or yoga are all suitable. Avoid hard rock and music with a lot of dissonant chords.
- Read, talk and sing to your baby as often as possible (Dad as well as Mom).
Tactile Stimulation
- Massage your baby through Mom’s belly.
- Respond to your baby’s kicks by pressing back gently.
Visual Stimulation
- Try shining a flashlight at your belly, once in a while, to see if it gets a reaction.
Optimize Your Mood
- Mom, try to be as calm and happy as possible. Your mood has a direct effect on the chemicals secreted into your bloodstream. Too much cortisol (the stress hormone) is bad for your baby’s developing nervous system.
- Plan some fun, relaxing couple time – a gentle hike or trip to the beach; a meal at your favorite restaurant or a hotel stay. If you can, go on a babymoon during the second trimester, when moms tend to have the most energy.
Optimize Your Diet
- Eat a healthy, balanced and varied diet.
- Don’t take over-the-counter or prescription drugs without your obstetrician’s approval.
- Don’t drink alcohol, or keep it to one small measure of wine or beer on very special occasions.
- Don’t smoke or take recreational drugs.
- Take folic acid (starting from one month before conception) and DHA supplements.
What can I do after birth?
Above all, now that your baby is finally here, you should enjoy interacting with her as much as possible. Talk, read and sing to your baby. Hug, cuddle and kiss her. Spend time playing with her, following her lead once she is old enough to show you what interests her. Enjoy this special time when your child is small – it will pass by all too quickly!
Besides the essentials above, there’s plenty more you can do to engage your baby’s brain. Auditory and tactile stimulation remain important, as they were in the womb. You can also help your baby develop his motor skills – and learn to read before he starts school!
Auditory Stimulation
- Play music (see above for suitable genres) around the house. You might also consider playing foreign language CDs from time to time. Your baby will absorb the sounds of a second language subconsciously, helping her to accurately hear and pronounce that language when she’s older.
- Talk and sing to your baby as much as you can. When talking, ask questions and avoid baby talk.
- Read a large variety of books to your baby, pointing to every syllable of every word as you read.
Tactile Stimulation
- Regularly massage your baby.
Physical Development
- Your baby’s and intellectual development are inseparable. , for example, can improve your baby’s vision, which in turn could affect how easily he learns to read and write.
- Encourage mobility by placing your baby on her tummy at regular intervals. When she’s older, give her the freedom to crawl and walk around; don’t hem her inside a restricted area such as a playpen, or do so as infrequently as possible.
- your baby to improve his vestibular (balance) system. Turn your baby upside down – he’ll love it!
Diet and Feeding
- Do your best to breastfeed – exclusively for the first six months, and with breast milk as your baby’s primary source of nutrition up to the age of one. Breastfeeding moms should eat a healthy diet that includes plenty of fish.
- When introducing solids, expose your baby to a variety of foods as early as possible. Include plenty of fresh vegetables and fruit, as well as fish.
Reading and Math
- You can begin teaching your baby and from as early as four months. With consistent practice, many children taught as babies can effortlessly recognize words and perform instant math calculations before kindergarten age.
Joyful Learning
- Avoid putting pressure on your child. Learning should always be a joyful experience.
Playtime
- Prioritize play – babies and children can’t learn without it. Make sure your child has plenty of toys that stimulate her to explore and be creative. Take time out on a regular basis to play with your child.
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