The first three years?

Question

Why are the first three years important for shaping a childs brain

Answer 1

A couple of reasons. 1) the child's brain cells only form connections while the baby is being held. 2)human milk is vital for raising the iq (formula users loser 10 points on average) 3)the child's emotional attachment to mommy is the foundation for all learning. The first three years are critical for that relationship to grow and provide the stable secure base for the child. When babies are apart from mommy, their brains flood with cortisol which impairs learning and increases risk for anxiety and depression disorders. The brain can't grow right if it's flooded with cortisol, so the baby's experiences with a reliable or unreliable mommy determine the health of the brain.

If the child endures more than 10 hours of separation a week from mommy in the first three years, there are cognitive, social, emotional, and physical damages.

Answer 2

The neurons (brain cells) are making connections as the child interprets stimuli in his/her environment. Each time the child is stimulated the brain fires a signal which travels along a neuron and connects with other neurons that create a pathway. If the child is shown that same stimuli the signal follows the same pathway. If the stimuli is changed a new pathway is created. Hense, the more stimulation, the more pathways that are created..

It is theorized that the first few years are the perfect window of opportunity for this to occure. But I think learning is lifelong- the earlier one starts the better.

Answer 3

Actually it's the first 5. You ahould expose your child to as many experiences as possible to stmulate brain functions. Read to them nightly and let them read to you, even if their "reading" is only parroting the words back because they've heard the story so many times. Crawl on the floor with them. Children who cross crawl have better right brain/left brain communication. Give them things and let them sort them however they want. Introduce them to the alphabet and beginning letter sounds when they are about 3 so they pick up the initial stages of reading sooner. There's lots to do, but it's soooooo worht it for your child. Good luck.