Written by Chinyelu Kunz
Neuroscience describes the early years, birth to 7, as a critical time when the brain forms. Research in neuroscience shows that the brain develops from the bottom up and follows a sequence. The brainstem and sensory systems develop first, then the emotional systems. Both of these first two systems develop healthily when we focus on healthy attachments, give our children a sense of safety, allow time for lots of movement, and work on being a self-regulated, compassionate parent and caregiver. Last to develop is the prefrontal cortex which impacts reasoning ability, impulse control and abstract thinking. When we think of neuroscience, we must consider these 5 foundational systems critical for healthy brain development: Secure attachments, Sensory experiences, Movement, Imagination, and Language.
What does this mean? It means that we can expect children to first learn primarily through movement, sensory experiences, emotional connection, imitation, and play. It also means that abstract academic instruction and learning rely on brain regions that are still very immature before age 7. For this reason and more, play in our early childhood classrooms is not an activity that is squeezed in, instead it is the curriculum along with other developmentally appropriate activities that our programs offer. Here’s what play in our preschool and Kindergarten classrooms supports: Self-regulation, Executive skills, Emotional resilience, Language development, Social intelligence, and Creative out-of-the-box thinking. Neuroscience says that every one of these is deeply rooted in healthy brain development.
Here’s what’s happening in the brain between birth and seven years old. Neuroscience tells us that the brain forms over one million neural connections per second in a child’s early years. Here’s the critical part: what a child experiences determines which connections are strengthened or pruned. It also tells us that repetition (experienced as rhythm in our classrooms) actually wires pathways for attention, language, motor skills, and emotional regulation. Rhythm supports healthy physical development. It provides emotional security and builds strong habits. Neuroscience also shows that rhythm regulates the nervous system and reduces stress. Because the brain is shaped by the environment(s) it is exposed to as well as relationships with caregivers, our teachers honor each child’s emotional and developmental needs with great care within an environment that nurtures their growth.
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Neuroscience describes the early years, birth to 7, as a critical time when the brain forms. Research in neuroscience shows that the brain develops from the bottom up and follows a sequence. The brainstem and sensory systems develop first, then the emotional systems. Both of these first two systems develop healthily when we focus on healthy attachments, give our children a sense of safety, allow time for lots of movement, and work on being a self-regulated, compassionate parent and caregiver. Last to develop is the prefrontal cortex which impacts reasoning ability, impulse control and abstract thinking. When we think of neuroscience, we must consider these 5 foundational systems critical for healthy brain development: Secure attachments, Sensory experiences, Movement, Imagination, and Language.
What does this mean? It means that we can expect children to first learn primarily through movement, sensory experiences, emotional connection, imitation, and play. It also means that abstract academic instruction and learning rely on brain regions that are still very immature before age 7. For this reason and more, play in our early childhood classrooms is not an activity that is squeezed in, instead it is the curriculum along with other developmentally appropriate activities that our programs offer. Here’s what play in our preschool and Kindergarten classrooms supports: Self-regulation, Executive skills, Emotional resilience, Language development, Social intelligence, and Creative out-of-the-box thinking. Neuroscience says that every one of these is deeply rooted in healthy brain development.
Here’s what’s happening in the brain between birth and seven years old. Neuroscience tells us that the brain forms over one million neural connections per second in a child’s early years. Here’s the critical part: what a child experiences determines which connections are strengthened or pruned. It also tells us that repetition (experienced as rhythm in our classrooms) actually wires pathways for attention, language, motor skills, and emotional regulation. Rhythm supports healthy physical development. It provides emotional security and builds strong habits. Neuroscience also shows that rhythm regulates the nervous system and reduces stress. Because the brain is shaped by the environment(s) it is exposed to as well as relationships with caregivers, our teachers honor each child’s emotional and developmental needs with great care within an environment that nurtures their growth.
More ...
