Child Brain Development

During child brain development, children produce about twice as many synapses as they will eventually need in life. "Experience" determines which synapses will be saved and which will be eliminated.

The environment which a child is raised plays a huge role in child brain development. The young child's environment directly and permanently affects the structure and overall function of their brain.

Everything a child sees, tastes, feels, hears and touches converts electrical messages in a subset of the child's synapses, producing learning that will enhance survival and intelligence. On the contrary, synapses that are rarely stimulated - whether it is because sport is avoided, language is rarely heard, music is never made or love isn't felt etc will wither and die off.

The lack of adequate "experience" to provide the necessary electrical brain activity will inhibit potential circuits that may have established the potential to produce a wicked tennis forehand, perfect musical pitch, a glowing self esteem and so on, may never come to fruition.

Early brain development is a critical period to nurture while the brain is so malleable. From birth, the brain streamlines stray synapses from experiences and channels survivors to form mental processes evident throughout life.

For parents, Brainy Bambino explains more about what you can do to enhance the experiences your children engage in to help establish the connection of synapses and therefore shape future intelligence.

Follow the below links to learn about:

	Child Development Through Play - An explanation on the importance of play and an outline to help parents get started.
	Child Development Play Activities - Lots of specific ideas and ways to provide meaningful and creative play experiences.
	Brain Building Toys - What makes the best toys for learning? How to choose the best ones to help your child really learn.