Biological

Essentials

Wisconsin Council on Children and Families, Inc.

Wisconsin Council on Children and Families, Inc.

Biology of Brain DevelopmentMajor Concepts

• Progressive Development of the BrainProgressive Development of the Brain

• Critical WindowsCritical Windows

• Nature vs NurtureNature vs Nurture: genetics vs environment

Wisconsin Council on Children and Families, Inc.

Brain: Side View

cortexlimbic system

brainstem

midbrain

Wisconsin Council on Children and Families, Inc.

myelin sheath

cell body

NeuronsNeurons

axon

dendrites

Wisconsin Council on Children and Families, Inc.

Cortex

Occipital -vision

Parietal - touch

Temporal - language

Frontal - thought, logic, reason

FrontalOccipital

Parietal

Temporal

Wisconsin Council on Children and Families, Inc.

Repeated Experiences Repeated Experiences Become Encoded In Become Encoded In

Memory As Memory As ExpectationsExpectations

And Then As And Then As Mental Models Mental Models

Which Help The Child Which Help The Child Develop An Develop An

Internal Sense Internal Sense Of A Secure Base Of A Secure Base

In The World.In The World. (Siegel)

Wisconsin Council on Children and Families, Inc.

Positive Attachment Model

About Himself:

 1.          I am worthwhile/wanted

 2.          I am safe

 3.          I am capable

About Caretakers:

 1.          They are available

 2.          They are responsive

3. They meet my needs

Wisconsin Council on Children and Families, Inc.

Attachment: Outcomes

Nurturing/stimulation: competence, confidence

Limits/structure: self-control, affect regulation

Conversation/interaction: reflection, judgment, analysis

Wisconsin Council on Children and Families, Inc.

Negative Attachment Model

About Herself:

  1.         I am worthless

  2.          I am unsafe

3.          I am impotent

About Caretakers:

  1.          They are unresponsive

  2.          They are unreliable

  3.          They are threatening, dangerous, rejecting

Wisconsin Council on Children and Families, Inc.

Wisconsin Council on Children and Families, Inc.

Our Lives Are Our Lives Are

Shaped By Those Shaped By Those

Who Love Us…Who Love Us…

and by Those and by Those

Who Refuse Who Refuse

to Love Us.to Love Us.Fr. John Powel, S.J.

Relationships

Repetition

Wisconsin Council on Children and Families, Inc.

For these are all For these are all

our children,our children,

we will profitwe will profit

oror

lose, by whatever lose, by whatever

they becomethey become..

JJames Baldwinames Baldwin

Wisconsin Council on Children & Families, Inc.