Children: The Far Reaching Effects of Early Nurturing
by Monica Sappleton on Mar 20, 2009 with 31 Comments
Early training plays a significant role in the shaping of their future abilities.
Image Source:http:commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Infant_smile.jpg
The result of much of the studies done on cognitive development (brain functions) in children shows that early training plays a significant role in the shaping of their future abilities
How So?
Scientists believe that a baby’s brain grows rapidly during the first few years of their lives. While it is growing, it is also mapping out the network of neurons that supports thinking and learning. This way it establishes its own potential capacity for processing information. But the use of this capacity is not an automatic process. Neuroscientists believe that it may be that the nerve cells within this network connection / this potential capacity, get turned on by the amount of stimulation they receive.This has led to the conclusion that infants need cognitive stimulation. It helps to fire up the neurons and promote a healthy development of the brain circuitry.
So what can parents do to foster this cognitive stimulation?
Obviously, they cannot make perfect the circuitry for the infant’s developing brain. They can, however, provide them with the right kind of stimulation. One brain researcher said that the child must get the right kind of stimulation at the right age to ensure the proper development of the neurological circuits.
What is the right kind of stimulation?
It is not just the giving of fancy and expensive toys. It is the giving of their time and attention to incite the infant to respond and react to his environment. It also means to provide an environment and experience that will capture his / her curiosity to explore; subsequently enabling the developing neurological network the capacity to expand.
What can parents do when the infant does not respond readily?
They must put on their creative hats, as it were, and search for activities that will arouse the child to respond: for example: play with them, the game: the dropping of the toy and picking it up again, and again, and again; whereas the infant does the dropping and the parent does the picking up, of course. The idea here is to find or create age appropriate activities that are funny and exciting to them, and to be willing to interact with them at their level. This will help the more docile child and eventually capture a vibrant response.
Age Appropriate Stimuli
AGE STIMULI
Birth to 6 months Bounce / rock the baby to the rhythm of a variety of musical compositions: example The Dance of the Reed Flutes from Tchaivovsky’s Nutcracker Suite (provided in the recording); http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h94BdxnheeM
Play musical CDs and allow the infant to listen: example: 2nd movement of Piano Concerto in D major by W.A. Mozart.
Play the dangling of the scarf game, using an array of bright colorful scarves. This can be played to the music of the Snake Dance from The Nutcracker Suite as well.
6Months to 18 Months Play the Peek-A-Boo game with the baby. Suggestion: The parent can do a highly rhythmic, and funny dance to the music of the Russian Dance from the Nutcracker. The disappearing act could be done in the middle of the 2nd theme; and return in the same rhythm at the end on the big fortissimo (Very loud section) The parents will become the dancers here. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NzSGBGWO3r4
Play the baby Einstein video (seen in the image), the funny characters are bound to provoke an active response. Play other games that are similar in nature, i.e exercising the baby’s brain through music.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2MDTaGIJU0I
18 Months to 3yrs
Enroll the toddler in the more formal music classes: (1) Musikgarten; (2) Kindermusik;
(3) Music For the Young. These fun classes are like structured play, but they are based
on a variety of activities which involves singing, dancing, and movement..
Movement and many other physical skills like riding a tricycle / bike, learning
to write etc. are centered in the same section of the brain ( the exercising of one, will help the others).
(the orange areas support language, music, math, abstract reasoning)(the green areas support motor skills).
http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Brodmann_areas.png
The Rationale For Exercising the Baby’s Brain Through Music:
Neuroscientists have found that the neurons used to process music, math, language,
and abstract reasoning overlap. This means that these activities are processed in the
same section of the brain. Since the infant does not have the ability to respond to
math and abstract reasoning at this point in time, then using the ones at their disposal:activities based on
music and language, will not only help to turn on the neurons in this section of the brain but also helps to gradually activate the other skills that are still dormant.
Since the formative years is such a powerful period of brain development, then, it is imperative that parents give their children a good foundation. This sets the tone for future achievements.
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Published in: Family
CHAN LEE PENG | Mar 20, 2009 | Reply
Both educational and informative. All parents should read this useful article. Thanks!:-)
revivor | Mar 20, 2009 | Reply
mine are 15 and 13 so it was a case of thinking back for me!!
My eldest has Autism – what are your views on this condition??
We are just starting some music therapy at a club that I help run for 50 Autistic kids on a Friday evening…
http://revivor-doingthewritething.blogspot.com/
Uma Shankari | Mar 20, 2009 | Reply
Just to let you know, Monica, I loved this article. One of the tests they do on a newborn baby is to conduct hearing tests. If the baby has hearing problems, corrective measures can be taken very, very early; else, the child’s speech may get impaired. The baby can be taught sign language as early as 5 months. It’s surprising how quickly a child learns. All this has got to do with the development of cognitive abilities, as you have so well described in the article.
OhSugar | Mar 20, 2009 | Reply
This is a great research project. I am so very impressed with all the information that you discovered and are sharing. I totally agree, that the earlier you start training the little brains, the better future they will have. I love the picture of your cutie.
Great Job,
Kate Smedley | Mar 20, 2009 | Reply
This is an ideal source of information for anyone with children in this age group or for future reference. Well written article.
Amsky | Mar 20, 2009 | Reply
Well said my friend. The infant’s brain is like a blank sheet of paper. They will learn the first thing that they heard and saw from their environment. Infant’s brain is called “tabula rasa” means no innate conceptions. Which means this is the perfect stage to teach them and instill self respect, good manners and good habits. Thank you for sharing this wonderful information.
Amsky
C LEBLANC | Mar 20, 2009 | Reply
This is an awesome Article! Educational and Interesting. Great write!
QueenZee | Mar 20, 2009 | Reply
Great Article, this really goes hand in hand with a course I took over the summer in childcare. I agree with implementing values, education, and morals in children as early as possible. These things really shape who we become as adults.
Christine Ramsay | Mar 20, 2009 | Reply
I really like this article. I am so glad to say that my grandson at 20 months is having all the stimulation he should be getting according to what you have written. He is doing really well. This is a very informative and helpful article for parents of young children. Well done.
Christine
Monica Sappleton | Mar 20, 2009 | Reply
Thank you my friends for the great way you have embraced this article. It is even more reaffirming for all when I hear the testimonies of those who have personally experienced the effect of early training on the cogniyive development their young ones.
Great friends! Have a blessed day.
Monica.
Melody Arcamo Lagrimas | Mar 20, 2009 | Reply
This is a great article. It is indeed important to stimulate the brain of babies with music. Wonderful job, Monica.
Bo Jack Russo | Mar 20, 2009 | Reply
Monica another cool informative piece.I was familiar with a lot of this.I love the way you bring these “Cerebral” things to light.
Mr Ghaz | Mar 20, 2009 | Reply
Excellent! Well-written and very informative article abt childhood. Yuo’re right. I agree with you 100%…Must read 4 all Moms. Well done and Thanx for sharing
TOPELECTRICIAN | Mar 20, 2009 | Reply
this is so true! my grandaughter is years up on other kids her age at preschool. she formulates sentences and understand and can speak them. nice read!
papaleng | Mar 20, 2009 | Reply
Excellent and well-researched article about early nurturing of children.
Eunice Tan | Mar 20, 2009 | Reply
It is an important article. Babies are our future. I’m sure this article will be useful.
kris miyasako | Mar 21, 2009 | Reply
I salute you for this one Monica. Mothers, young and old alike, should read this as we play an important5 role in the development of our kids and perhaps of our grandchildren. Thanks for exerting time, effort and the concern in coming up with an article such as this.
Sakuragi | Mar 21, 2009 | Reply
Thanks a lot for sharing this. Excellent article! =)
rockjuneDrock | Mar 21, 2009 | Reply
Very nice research again. well done
gianne | Mar 21, 2009 | Reply
Great write! LOADED with good info. Thanks for sharing.
egypt33 | Mar 21, 2009 | Reply
Very educative and helpful. You\’ve done a very detailed research!
nutuba | Mar 21, 2009 | Reply
Interesting and well researched article! This is very well written, too. I think you nailed it — the key is for parents to spend a lot of time with their kids … and not time watching tv, but time interacting. Nicely done!
Abdul Sabour Ayoubi | Mar 23, 2009 | Reply
Great article and well written, thnaks for sharing.
Lisa Clayton Williams | Mar 24, 2009 | Reply
Wonderful, very informative article!! As the others have said, great research!! I enjoyed this very much!
The Quail | Mar 29, 2009 | Reply
Both interest and very educational. Well done.
MrZebra84 | Mar 30, 2009 | Reply
Very interesting article. I’ll keep those things in mind next time I have to babysit
C. S. Robins | Mar 31, 2009 | Reply
I never knew how these games and interactions hlped a child…I just knew they were supposed to. Thanks for this and the links and references to back it up!
Suppee XX | Mar 31, 2009 | Reply
This is so interesing andimportant- I read a few pieces about brain development when I was pregnant- and I readily believe wat yiou have told us here. Great- the nuturing goes on- but in much more sophisticated ways as they grow. Its all hard work, but very pleasurable.
Mythili Kannan | Apr 1, 2009 | Reply
Fantastic one… thanks for this… so helpful for me
Isha | Apr 16, 2009 | Reply
Very interesting and enlightening article. Thanks for sharing this. It’s great that you are getting the word out to people that it’s never too early to start introducing music and other activities to your children.
Deep Blue | Jun 30, 2009 | Reply
Highly informative. Thanks for sharing.