The growing body of research into early brain development has been at the forefront of raising the prominence of the first 1,000 days in public discourse over recent years, with the Centre for the Developing Child at Harvard University playing a leading role in this.
The research
The authors start by explaining that brain development begins within weeks of conception and continues in to early adulthood, and that the brain continues to adapt and change throughout adulthood. This development is the result of complex interactions between biology and the environment.
Optimal development for babies, which is essential for typical physical, cognitive and emotional development, is most likely if they experience a stimulating and responsive environment. The authors highlight the difference between "experience expectant" development - experiences that are typically shared by all children, such as hearing noises, perceiving patterned light and having opportunities to move around and manipulate objects - and "experience dependant" development - experiences that vary from one child to the next, such as the opportunity to learn to read and write.
Register Now to Continue Reading
Thank you for visiting Children & Young People Now and making use of our archive of more than 60,000 expert features, topics hubs, case studies and policy updates. Why not register today and enjoy the following great benefits:
What's Included
-
Free access to 4 subscriber-only articles per month
-
Email newsletter providing advice and guidance across the sector
Already have an account? Sign in here
