EARLY BRAIN DEVELOPMENT

CHAPTER 9

INTELLECTUAL DEVELOPMENT OF INFANTS

STRUCTURE OF THE BRAIN

•Neurons … are nerve cells in the brain

•Neural pathways are the links between neurons

•These links develop in response to babies’

experiences through the senses

•Allow brain to control body functions & thinking

NEWBORNS

•Operate primarily from reflex actions. ---An

automatic, instinctive response

•6-month old: aware it can be kicked off &

does it on purpose.

• The part of the brain that receives this sensory

information is the cerebrum

• Mostly in the cortex, the outer layer

• The cortex allows more complex learning

•Axons are the connections between the

neurons

•Dendrites are branch-like features at the

end of axons that receives messages

•A neurotransmitter is a chemical released

by axons that acts as a messenger

between neurons

•As connections between dendrites and

axons grow stronger, a group of neurons

become linked and become a system of

nerve cells, called neural pathways, that

control an action or thinking task.

HOW DOES THE DEVELOPMENT OF CONNECTIONS IN THE BRAIN HELP A BABY BECOME SKILLED AT STACKING BLOCKS?

•After doing this repeatedly, the neurons

work together so well that it becomes easy.

•Repetition makes the connection stronger.

WHAT CAN A CAREGIVER DO TO HELP THE DEVELOPMENT OF A BABY’S BRAIN PATHWAYS?

1.Keep it simple and natural

2.Match experiences to a child’s mental abilities

3.Practice makes perfect

4.Actively involve the baby

5.Provide variety, but avoid overload

6.Avoid pushing the child

PLAY GAMES … TALK … STIMULATE SENSES … USE REPETITION

MYELIN

Myelin is a fatty substance that coats axons

--makes it easier to transmit signals

At first, only those nerves that control basic functions

such as nursing, have it. Other axons get it as a child

grows.

--added in different areas of the brain at

different times—motor skills, vision & hearing add it

next. These are the areas that first show

development. Baby can’t learn a skill if myelin is not

on those axons.

INTELLECTUAL DEVELOPMENT DURING 1ST YEAR Section 9.2

12.

Perception is related to learning because it is the ability to learn from information received through the senses. (hear, see, smell, taste, feel)

•Helps the brain become organized, increasing baby’s learning & skills

•Learn by observing & experimenting.

13.

EXAMPLES OF: FOUR INTELLECTUAL ABILITIES DEVELOPED IN 1ST YEAR

Memory:

•2-3 month old baby may stop crying when

someone enters the room because they anticipate

being picked up

13.

EXAMPLES OF: FOUR INTELLECTUAL ABILITIES DEVELOPED IN 1ST YEAR

Associations:

•Baby associates parent or caregiver with

receiving comfort

13.

EXAMPLES OF: FOUR INTELLECTUAL ABILITIES DEVELOPED IN 1ST YEAR

Cause and effect:

•Sucking causes milk to flow

or

•Pull a cord on a toy to make it move

13.

EXAMPLES OF: FOUR INTELLECTUAL ABILITIES DEVELOPED IN 1ST YEAR

Attention span:

•If the same object is presented over and over,

baby’s response becomes less enthusiastic.

•In infancy, babies with above average

intelligence have a shorter attention span. After

infancy, they have a longer attention span than

others.

14.

Piaget: HOW CHILDREN PROGRESS THROUGH

THE STAGES OF INTELLECTUAL DEVELOPMENT

1. In a pattern: These 4 stages appear in the same order

in all children

2.The ages in which they emerge may vary from child to

child

3.Must master one thinking skill before they can move on

4.Cannot be forced any faster than speed at which their

abilities mature

5. If they have no opportunity to apply new skills, they’ll

never reach their full potential

15.

PIAGET’S 4 PERIODS OF INTELLECTUAL DEVELOPMENT

Period Age Characteristics

Sensorimotor Birth to 2 years Learn through their

senses and own actions

Pre-operational 2 to 7 years Think in terms of own

activities and what

they perceive at

moments

Concrete operations 7 to 11 years Can think logically but

still learn best through

experience

Formal operations 11 to adult Capable of abstract

thinking

16.

KEESHA CRAWLS TO LOOK FOR A TOY THAT ROLLED AWAY…

WHAT CONCEPT HAS KEESHA LEARNED?

OBJECT PERMANENCE

Can now keep image of toy in her mind

17.

TYPE OF THINKING THAT MAKES IT POSSIBLE FOR CHILDREN TO EVENTUALLY LEARNING TO READ?

Symbolic thinking – use of words & numbers to

stand for ideas – foundation for reading

What age?

End of sensorimotor period – 18-24 months

18.

WHY PROVIDE SENSORY STIMULATION DURING SENSORIMOTOR STAGE?

Sensorimotor period…

•Infants learn mainly through their senses & own

actions, when the neurons in the infant’s brain

establish pathways that enable learning

•Need descriptive language with experience!

19.

EXAMPLES OF THINGS CAREGIVERS CAN DO TO BUILD AN INFANT’S SENSE OF SECURITY & TRUST…

?

20.

WHAT ARE CONCEPTS?

General categories of objects and information

21.

STAGES CHILDREN 1-3 GO THROUGH TO LEARN WORDS & CONCEPTS

Stage 1 – Labels for whole objects, not parts

Stage 2 – Labels apply to group, not to

individual objects in the group

Stage 3 – An object can only have one label.

HELPING INFANTS LEARN SECTION 9.3

• Intellectual development in an infant is closely inked with the RESPONSIVENESS, or reactions, of others in the baby’s environment.

•When caregivers respond consistently, everyday events like discomfort, crying, cuddling and being fed are connected.

• The child learns to recognize this pattern. This forms healthy pathways in the brain.

LEARNING ABOUT AVERAGE CHILD DEVELOPMENT...

•…can help caregivers provide toys and learning

experiences that are age appropriate

•Understand child development helps caregivers have

realistic expectations for what their child should be able to

do.

HOW DOES TALKING TO INFANTS BENEFIT THEM?

•Talking to infants helps them learn about their environment

•The brain develops faster

•Talking to babies builds feelings of security

CHILDPROOFING

•Allows for freedom of movement to explore their

environment which encourages intellectual

development

HOW PLAY BENEFITS BABIES

Lets infants…

•Strengthen muscles

•Refine motor skills

• Learn about world

***Essential to physical, social, emotional & intellectual development***

TOYS

A push or pull toy to crawl or walk after or containers they

can put things in and take things out of or toys to

manipulate are good for a 12-month-old

A 4 month old cannot crawl or walk or manipulate objects.

BABY COMMUNICATION

Without words???

•Crying

•Movements or gestures

•Other sounds, such as giggles or coos

•Facial expressions

Caregivers should avoid using baby talk so babies

learn how to speak correctly.

Babies are experts at repeating what they hear. If

they learn baby talk first, regular speech is more

difficult.

SPEECH MILESTONES

•Voices excitement and displeasure – 4-6 month

•Says one or two words – 7 months – 1 year

•Puts words together – 1-2 years

•Talks about activities – 3-4 years

•Tells stories – 4-5 years