UNDERSTANDING EARLY CHILDHOOD

BRAIN DEVELOPMENT FOR

TEACHERS
• Informed Teaching Practices
• Promoting School Readiness
• Individualized Support
• Creating Optimal Learning Environments
• Enhanced Classroom Management
• Emotional Regulation
• Building Secure Attachments
• Language and Literacy Development
• Identification of Developmental Delays
 •Understand the basics of
brain development in young
children.

LEARNING •Explore the critical periods for

OBJECTIV brain growth.
ES •Identify the role of teachers in
promoting healthy brain
development.
 EARLY BRAIN DEVELOPMENT
Statistics

A baby’s brain at birth has roughly 86 billion brain cells (neurons)1, almost all the neurons the human brain
will ever have.
Although a new born has about the same number of neurons as an adult, it has only 25% of the adult size.

Infant’s neurons are connected by only roughly 50 trillion new neural connections, called synapses, whereas
an adult brain has about 500 trillion of them.
By age 3, the synaptic connections have grown to 1000 trillion.

90% of brain development completes by the age of 5.

During early adulthood, the synaptic density will be half of that of a toddler at age two.
 Once the baby is born, the brain kicks into high gear. The early years of a child's
life, from birth to around the age of five, are generally considered the core of the
critical period. The brain is incredibly absorbent during these years, taking in
information rapidly. Everything from language to motor skills to social cues is
being learned and processed extensively.

THE Different aspects of learning and development have different critical periods. For
EARLY instance, the critical period for language acquisition extends into early
adolescence. This means that while the brain is still very good at learning
YEARS OF languages during early childhood, it continues to be relatively efficient at it until
A CHILD'S the teenage years.

LIFE

The brain is incredibly absorbent during these years, taking in information

rapidly. Everything from language to motor skills to social cues is being learned
and processed extensively.
 THE BRAIN

• The brain controls many of the body's functions including sensation, thought, movement,
awareness, and memory. The surface of the brain is known as the cerebral cortex. The surface of
the cortex appears bumpy thanks to the grooves and folds of the tissue. Each groove is known as
a sulcus, while each bump is known as a gyrus.
• The largest part of the brain is the cerebrum. It is responsible for functions such as memory,
speech, voluntary behaviors, and thought.
• The cerebrum is divided into two hemispheres, the right hemisphere and the left hemisphere.
• The right hemisphere controls movements on the body's left side, while the left hemisphere
controls movements on the body's right side.
.

Each hemisphere of the brain is then divided into four interconnected lobes:
• Frontal lobes are associated with higher cognition, voluntary movements, and language.
This lobe is located at the front of the brain and is associated with reasoning, motor skills,
higher level cognition, and expressive language. At the back of the frontal lobe, near the
central sulcus, lies the motor cortex.
The motor cortex receives information from various lobes of the brain and uses this
information to carry out body movements. Damage to the frontal lobe can lead to changes
in sexual habits, socialization, and attention as well as increased risk-taking
• Parietal Lobe
The parietal lobe is located in the middle section of the brain and is associated with
processing tactile sensory information such as pressure, touch, and pain. A portion of the brain
known as the somatosensory cortex is located in this lobe and is essential to the processing
of the body's senses.
• Temporal Lobe
The temporal lobe is located on the bottom section of the brain. This lobe is also the location
of the primary auditory cortex, which is important for interpreting sounds and the language
we hear.
The hippocampus is also located in the temporal lobe, which is why this portion of the brain is
also heavily associated with the formation of memories. Damage to the temporal lobe can
lead to problems with memory, speech perception, and language skills.
OCCIPITAL LOBE

• The occipital lobe is located at the back portion of the brain and is associated with
interpreting visual stimuli and information. The primary visual cortex, which receives and
interprets information from the retinas of the eyes, is located in the occipital lobe.
• Damage to this lobe can cause visual problems such as difficulty recognizing objects, an
inability to identify colors, and trouble recognizing words.
THE SCIENCE OF
EARLY CHILDHOOD
BRAIN
DEVELOPMENT
 CRITICAL PERIODS & PLASTICITY

Windows of time when synaptic connections

in certain brain regions are more plastic and
malleable.
For example, language skills learning is much
easier for young children. They can learn a
non-native language and attain proficiency more
easily before puberty.
So the sensitive period for language
development, especially second language, is
from birth to before puberty
The brain has a certain time window when it's exceptionally good at learning new things, especially
languages. This window of time is what is referred to as the "critical period."

The critical period in brain development is an immensely significant and specific time frame during
which the brain is especially receptive to environmental stimuli and undergoes a series of rapid
changes.

These changes have lifelong effects as essential neural connections and pathways are established,
playing a vital role in cognitive, emotional, and social development.

When Does the Critical Period Begin and End?

The starting point of the critical period is at conception. The brain starts to form and develop from
the moment you are conceived. During pregnancy, a baby's brain is already beginning to shape itself
for the world outside. The brain is gearing up and getting ready to absorb a massive amount of
information.
 SIGNIFICANCE OF EARLY
CHILDHOOD AS A CRITICAL PERIOD
• Language Acquisition
• Sensorimotor Development
• Social and Emotional Development
• Cognitive Development
• Sensory Development
• Neural Circuitry
WHAT HAPPENS TO THE BRAIN IN THE CRITICAL PERIOD?

During the critical period, the brain experiences explosive

growth. Let's take a look at some of the changes that
happen in the brain during the critical period.
Neurons Form Connections
• In the early stages, neurons in the brain start to form
connections. These connections are called synapses.
• Synapses are bridges that help different parts of the brain
communicate with each other. In the critical period, the
brain is building these bridges at an incredible pace.
 NEUROPLASTICITY

• Forming and changing interconnections in our brains

is an ongoing process that takes place throughout our
lives.
• As a baby interacts with the world, certain
connections strengthen while others weaken. For
instance, if a baby hears a lot of music, the parts of
the brain associated with sounds and music will
become stronger. This process of strengthening
certain connections is known as brain plasticity
because the brain molds itself like plastic
• Neuroplasticity allows new connections to form. But
as we age, they do so at a much slower rate.
 THE EXPERIENCE-DEPENDENT BRAIN

Synaptic Pruning:
Synaptic pruning is a crucial process in brain
development that occurs predominantly during
adolescence and early adulthood.
It involves the selective elimination of weak or
unnecessary synapses, while strengthening
and preserving the essential connections
 WHY IS IT IMPORTANT?
Efficiency

Enhanced Learning

Specialization

Adaptive Plasticity or Rewiring

Brain Development
HOW BRAIN DEVELOPMENT INFLUENCES
COGNITIVE SKILLS?

Problem-Solvi
Memory Attention
ng

Mathematical Imagination
Reading Skills
Concepts and Creativity

Critical
Thinking