Introduction
The brain begins to develop in the womb and continues through childhood. In neonates, the brain develops to form and strengthen neural connections that support learning, memory, thinking, language, emotions, and reasoning. The child's brain growth is the source of all their abilities, including their ability to smile, roll over, crawl, walk, and talk. However, at birth, the brain is still a least-developed organ in which few neurons are connected or protected.
Environment before and after birth affects the kind and number of neural connections and the pruning (removal) of unneeded ones. When infants and young children babble or cry, the adults respond through eye contact, words, or hugs that help build and strengthen the brain, which supports the development of communication and social skills.
What Are the Hypotheses on Human Brain Development?
There are two views on human brain development:
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Nature Philosophy: It is based on the idea that a child's genes will influence their level of intelligence and how their brain will develop.
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Nurture Philosophy: It is based on the theory that children are born in a clean state. The nurturing experience that they get while growing helps with brain development.
However, the baby's genes determine the brain's basic neuronal connections and developmental order. The fact that all newborns experience identical developmental milestones of reaching, rolling, and crawling serves as evidence. The nurture or environment of the baby shapes the quality of brain development. All infants can acquire language, for instance, but the language they pick up and its accent depends on their environment.
How Does the Brain Develop After Birth?
Early in a child's life, the most critical brain development occurs. A child's brain size doubles from birth to 3 years.
Ante-Natal
The child’s brain has started developing, and all five senses begin functioning before birth. During this phase, prenatal sensory experience helps shape the child’s brain and development.
Between 2 to 6 Months
The first year of life is a critical period for developing brain connections. The baby’s brain develops because of the relationships and experiences that they get every day. The babies learn emotions by watching parents interact with them when they coo, smile, cry, or yell.
Between 6 to 9 Months
Up to 9 months, the baby’s brain tends to have a growth spurt that helps form connections of what they see, hear, taste, feel, and taste. Playtimes with family members and parents provide learning opportunities for the child’s early brain development.
3 Years
Around 1,000 trillion brain connections are created when a child is three years old; these connections are the highest and are pruned throughout the following developmental years. During early years, the child’s brain develops rapidly and strengthens by the child’s positive connection with parents and caregivers. A child’s brain development can be significantly influenced by engaging with them and providing a safe environment and care.
Between 3 to 5 Years
The child’s brain continues to develop during the schooling years. It is difficult for the child to benefit from schooling if they do not have an optimal learning environment and nurturing home environment in the early years.
Adolescence
The brain's neural connections reduce to 500 trillion as one reaches adolescence. The brain's neural connections remain stable into adulthood. Brain networks and circuits are pruned by the brain prioritizing connections often used.
Why Are Early Years Essential for Brain Development?
When the main years of brain development and its effect on schooling and later years are analyzed, it indicates the influence of positive experiences in early life. The first year of a child’s life forms the foundation for learning and development for lifelong. Although genetics have an initial role in brain development, the experiences and relationships shape a child’s brain.
Between 9 to 12 months, babies tend to become vocal as they develop an understanding of emotions. The positive interaction of the child's early years with trusted and supportive caregivers can help them with lifelong learning, health, and well-being.
What Is the Caretaker’s Role in the Neonate’s Brain Development?
Parents, family members, and caretakers all have an essential role in developing a child’s brain. Ensuring a safe and caring environment for the child and engaging with them by talking, reading, and playing can significantly influence the baby’s brain development. Community and learning environments facilitate optimal brain development by providing a secure, nurturing environment with learning opportunities and minimal stress. The following steps can help enhance brain development:
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Ensure 25-Minute Blocks of Time to Have Conversational Turns With the Baby: Talking to infants can be difficult, draining, or pointless. Talking to the babies for 25-minute chunks eight times a day can positively influence the child’s brain development.
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Daily Activities and Routines Must Become Opportunities to Talk: Whatever the caretaker is doing can become a fascinating conversation for the baby. For example, when the infant hears about the color of the sponge while scrubbing, it can make their day.
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Turn Individual Screen Time Into an Interactive Session: According to research, reducing screen time for infants and toddlers is not helpful. Little learning occurs when watching television for these young children since they cannot connect what they see with reality.
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Keep the Conversation Going: Each time, there is a back-and-forth exchange between the child. It is essential to keep the conversation going. For example, if splashing the water makes the baby coo, increasing the frequency of water splashing might do the trick.
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Respond to the Child’s Conversation: Observe what the child looks at, does, or says and engage them by conversing. When the caregiver and child are face to face, talking becomes easier as they may exchange facial expressions, embraces, and kisses while maintaining eye contact.
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Avoid Interrupting the Child or Not Responding: Whenever the infants talk, the parent must try to pay attention. It is a precious opportunity for the child’s early brain development. Recasting, a method that involves repeating a child's phrases while introducing fresh information without altering their essential meaning, is beneficial for toddlers.
Conclusion
Infants are instinctually motivated beings who want to learn skills needed for survival. For example, infants are genetically wired to learn languages. Therefore, caregivers must realize that their role in neonatal brain development facilitates the baby’s learning. Talking to the babies and responding effectively helps a child’s brain development.
