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Issue 6 June-July-August 2013

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News You Can Use: EarlyExperiences Build the Brain –Foundations of School Readiness!

Brain!Development Science has shown that the relationships with the important people in a baby'slife literally shape and form the architecture of the infant’s brain.i Deceptively simple, moment-to-moment interactions with responsivecaregivers build the brain, creating or strengthening it one connection at a

Table of ContentsEarly Experiences Build the BrainWelcome to the Baby Brain MapWhat is Mental Health?Interactive Brain Quiz

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time. By the time children are 2 years old, the structures of their brain that willinfluence later learning are mostly formed.ii This means that the most important brain growth and development, the kindthat will physically form the brain, begins long before a child ever picks up apencil, reads a book, or goes to school.iii We now know that when brainarchitecture has a strong foundation in the early years, infants and toddlersare more likely to be robust learners throughout their lives.

Building(ConnectionsThe brain is made up of billions of cells called neurons that make electricalconnections with each other. Each new experience, each piece of informationreleases chemicals called hormones that create a new connection, orsynapse, in the brain. More connections are formed in the brain prenatally andin the first few years of life than at any other time. After early childhood, the connections that are not used as frequently will bepruned, or removed, to allow for more useful connections to grow stronger.Sometimes this process is referred to as “use it or lose it,” since the parts ofyour brain you use the most become stronger while the parts you use less dieoff. For newborns and young infants, most of their emotional experiences happenin moments of interaction with their caregivers. Newborn and caregiverinteractions usually occur around activities such as comforting, feeding, andholding.iv When infants and toddlers are regularly ignored, frequently experienceviolence, or spend much of their time in highly stressful environments, theyare considered to be exposed to toxic stress.v While normal life stressors arenot dangerous, and can even be healthy for a developing brain, toxic stressoccurs when the body’s response system to stress is activated much of thetime. Our bodies produce a hormone called cortisol as part of the naturalreaction to stress. In moderation, cortisol can contribute to a healthy brainstructure. In extreme situations where a young child is feeling stressed muchof the time, constant exposure to cortisol can alter the way the brain mightotherwise develop. The great news is that you can reduce the impact of toxic stress experiencedby babies and young children. The loving, nurturing relationship that parents,family members, and teachers provide can act as a buffer to the effects oftoxic stress. Consistent adult support can help a young child come throughsuch difficulties with a brain that is still fully able to learn.

ConclusionParents, families, teachers, home visitors, policy makers, and anyone whoworks with or for infants and toddlers who have a solid understanding of howyoung brains develop and grow can make informed choices in their work forinfants and toddlers. Adults who have the knowledge and skills to provideresponsive interactions will help to shape the physical architecture of a child’sbrain so that he or she will be fully able to learn now, in school, and beyond. Adapted from: News You Can Use, News for Head Start, EarlyHead Start, & Migrant/Seasonal Head Start Programs, October,

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2012 iNational Scientific Council on the Developing Child, “Young Children Develop in anEnvironment of Relationships,” Working Paper No.1 (2004). Retrieved fromwww.developingchild.netiiJ. Ronald Lally, “School Readiness Begins in Infancy: Social Interactions During the FirstTwo Years of Life Provide the Foundation for Learning,” Phi Delta Kappan 92 (November2010): 17–21.iiiNational Scientific Council on the Developing Child, “The Timing and Quality of EarlyExperiences Combine to Shape Brain Architecture,” Working Paper No. 5 (2007). Retrievedfrom www.developingchild.netivNational Scientific Council on the Developing Child, “Children’s Emotional Development IsBuilt Into the Architecture of Their Brains,” Working Paper No. 2 (2004). Retrieved fromwww.developingchild.netvNational Scientific Council on the Developing Child, “InBrief: The Science of EarlyChildhood Development,” InBrief Series, retrieved from www.developingchild.net

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Professional DevelopmentOpportunity Welcome to the Baby Brain Map, a ZERO TO THREE Webexclusive Click here to visit The Brain Map which was adapted in 2006 by ZERO TOTHREE from BrainWonders, a collaborative project (1998-2001)between Boston University School of Medicine, Erikson Institute and ZEROTO THREE. This interactive brain map allows you to select an age range, click ondifferent "hot spots" on the brain, and reveal questions to find out how ababy's brain develops during this period of brain growth. You'll also learnwhat you can do to enrich a very young child's development.

Resources!Spotlight!on:!

What(is(Mental(Health?(Tips(forFamilies(from(the(Head(StartNational(Center(on(Health Mental health means that young children are growing in their ability to: • understand and share feelings • have close and positive relationships • explore and learn This resource describes ways you can help your child with positive mentalhealth. Click here to open the document "What is Mental Health?"

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DID YOU KNOW . . . Zero to Three has an interactive Brain Quiz designed to helpyou learn some of the basic concepts regarding early brainresearch. You can test yourself to see what information youknow concerning infants/toddlers and brain development. Click here: http://www.zerotothree.org/child-development/brain-development/brain-quiz.html

The VA ITSN is a program of Child Development Resources and is supported by the Virginia Department of Social Services (VDSS) Grant#93.575, with funds made available to Virginia from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.Points of view or opinions contained within this document are those of the author and do not necessarilyrepresent the official position or policies of VDSS or the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

For more information contactLouise Canfield, VA ITSN Statewide Director at (757)566-3300 or louisec@cdr.org

Remove my name from all future email correspondence Address postal inquiries to:Child Development ResourcesPO Box 280Norge, VA 23127Powered By