Infant Brain Development

The Brain begins to develop rapidly immediately after birth and has reached 80% of its size by age 3 and 90% by age 5 (Gross, 2008).  The brain generates and migrates the neurons during the prenatal period, while after birth that have reached the region of the brain where they will specialize (Gross, 2008).  The spinal cord and brain stem which control the basic processes of life such as respiration, reflexes, sleep, etc. are well developed by birth (Gross, 2008).  Neurons interconnect with other neurons to create synapses by axons and dendrites forming together (Gross, 2008).  Axons carry information away from the cell they work with and dendrites carry the messages to that cell (Gross, 2008). 

Synaptogenesis occurs rapidly in the sensorimotor cortex, thalamus, brainstem and cerebellum prior to the infant reaching five weeks of life (Gross, 2008).  At the three month marker, most of the synaptogenesis activity is associated with the visual cortex (Gross, 2008).  Different regions increase activity at different time frames.   After the first year, pruning begins and decreased production of neural activity, varying according to the age and brain region (Gross, 2008).   The limbic system and cerebral cortex, which is needed for higher learning tasks, develop at a much slower rate (Gross, 2008).  Research indicates that two million synapse are produced every second during the active periods of the cerebral cortex (Gross, 2008). 

Learning is dependent upon experiences.  Experience activates neurons to fire and repeating the experience causes the neural networks formed to strengthen (Gross, 2008).  Environmental influences, however, can have a negative impact on brain development.  Early physical and psychological stress has been found to delay the development or hinder growth in the hypothalamus and brainstem (Gross, 2008).   Researchers using MRI techniques have found that severely neglected and abused children have a smaller head and decreased brain mass (Gross, 2008).  Another study using MRI technique found that the greater the abuse the smaller the brain volume (Gross, 2008).  Studies of abused and neglected children in early childhood have detected delays in cognition, emotional factors, social skills, and physical development (Gross, 2008). 

Valerie Poling

References:

Gross, D. (2008). Physical Growth Health and Nutrition. In D. Gross, Infancy: Development from Birth to Age 3 (pp. 141-152). Pearson Education, Inc: Allyn and Bacon.

So, knowing this, what do we do?  How do we reduce the Shaken Babies?  Improve the experiences and expectant learning opportunities?  Prevent influences that negatively impact the development...?  share!

Some ideas about dinner you may not think about. What a great concept this program is!

Facts That Can't Be Ignored...

- The average parent spends 38.5 minutes per week in meaningful conversation with their children. (A.C. Nielsen Co.)

- Family dinners are more important than play, story time and other family events in the development of vocabulary of younger children. (Harvard Research, 1996)

- Frequent family meals are associated with a lower risk of smoking, drinking and using drugs; with a lower incidence of depressive symptoms and suicidal thoughts; and with better grades in 11 to 18 year olds. (Archives of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, 2004.)

- Adolescent girls who have frequent family meals, and a positive atmosphere during those meals, are less likely to have eating disorders. (University of Minnesota, 2004)


Take A Moment To Reflect...

▪ Do you struggle with what to feed your family each evening?

▪ Do you waste too much of your precious time making several trips to the grocery store each week?

▪ Do you spend $200 at the grocery store every week and still not seem to have anything in the house to prepare a healthy meal?

▪ How much money would you have if you put the money you normally spend eating out each month into a jar instead? What would you do with that extra money?

▪ How often does your entire family gather around the security of your dinner table to enjoy a home-cooked meal, relax, and share about your day?



Dine Without Whine


Click the above link to find out more or check out the video below:

Dine Without Whine