If a child receives little stimulation early on, the synapses will not develop, and the brain will make fewer connections. Connections that are used become permanent. Loving interactions with caring adults strongly stimulate a child’s brain, causing synapses to grow and existing connections to get stronger. A child’s experiences, good or bad, influence the wiring of his brain and the connection in his nervous system. Early stimulation sets the stage for how children will learn and interact with others throughout life. Language can be learned a multitude of ways, like casual conversation, songs, rhymes, reading, music, story telling and much more. An infant’s repeated exposure to words clearly helps her brain build the neural connections that will enable her to learn more words later on. During these years, the circuits in children’s brains become wired for how their own language sounds. Scientists believe that language is acquired most easily during the first ten years of life. It is no coincidence that babies begin to take notice of the world during this period. For instance, scientists have determined that the neurons for vision begin sending messages back and forth rapidly at 2 to 4 months of age, peaking in intensity at 8 months. “Windows of opportunity” are sensitive periods in children’s lives when specific types of learning take place. The brain eliminates connections that are seldom or never used, which is a normal part of brain development. At birth, the number of synapses per neuron is 2,500, but by age two or three, it’s about 15,000 per neuron. As the neurons mature, more and more synapses are made. In the brain, the neurons are there at birth, as well as some synapses.
During the first years of life, the brain undergoes a series of extraordinary changes.
Before birth, the brain produces trillions more neurons and “synapses” (connections between the brain cells) than it needs. The brain starts forming prenatally, about three weeks after conception. Heredity (nature) determines the basic number of “neurons” (brain nerve cells) children are born with, and their initial arrangement.Īt birth, a baby’s brain contains 100 billion neurons, roughly as many nerve cells as there are stars in the Milky Way, and almost all the neurons the brain will ever have. Brain cells are “raw” materials - much like lumber is a raw material in building a house, and a child’s experiences and interactions help build the structure, put in the wiring, and paint the walls. This starts before birth, and is very important during the first three years of life. Like constructing a house, brains are built upon a strong foundation. Child and Family Development Specialist, University of Maine Cooperative Extension.įor information about UMaine Extension programs and resources, visit .įind more of our publications and books at /publications/. explore additional part-time offerings through our senior high school CTE early learning centers.Prepared by Judith Graham, Extension human development specialist, University of Maine Cooperative Extension.see information about our tuition-based PreK program, or.
For more information visit our Child Find webpage.Īdditional Options: If you do not qualify for any of these early childhood programs,
Kindergarten: The kindergarten program in Plano ISD reflects the belief that children are active learners who build meaning and understanding through full participation in their learning environments, combining high expectations for each child with respect for individual development.Įarly Childhood Special Education (ECSE): ECSE is a special education program that serves children between the ages of three to five who have delays in the areas of speech, language, physical, social and/or emotional development. Head Start: Children and families in the federal Head Start program receive comprehensive services, which include health, dental, nutrition, family wellness, education, disabilities and family services as a part of federal guidelines.
This child-centered program follows the developmentally appropriate practices outlined by the National Association for the Education of Young Children. PreK: The Plano ISD PreK program provides a language and literacy enriched environment where children have hands-on opportunities for learning. Plano ISD Early Childhood & Kindergarten Programs About Early Childhood Education in Plano ISD