Did you know that your child’s brain develops faster in the first 1,000 days of their life than at any other time? Neurologists reveal that 90 percent of your child’s brain develops by the time they turn five. Get to know more about child brain development stages in this article!
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Child brain development
The brain development process begins from the uterus and continues well into adulthood, but it develops at a much faster rate in the early years of life.
Till the age of five, your child’s brain is the most “plastic,” which means it has the maximum capacity to observe, adapt, and also learn new skills. However, not every child’s brain develops at the same pace and in a similar manner.
So, when people say “start them young,” this is exactly what they mean!
A child’s brain development depends on a mix of genetics, nutrition right from the uterus, and also their early environment and interactions with people. How it develops in the early years also lays the foundation for their future learning and relationships with other people.
What are the different child brain development stages? Here’s everything you need to know.
How your Baby’s brain develops inside the womb
Image courtesy: iStock
Brain cell creation and neuronal migration are the two major processes that take place inside the uterus. After the brain cells are created, one of their main functions is to form the actual brain.
When you are in the first trimester, nerve connections are built and it enables your baby to move around in the womb. When you move to the second trimester, more nerve connections and brain tissue are formed.
In the third trimester, the cerebral cortex starts to take over from the brain stem, preparing your baby for future learning.
However, exposure to any kind of stress, infections, and toxins-either in the womb or post-birth, can influence your child’s brain development and not in a good way.
Hence, health experts lay stress on the expectant mom eating healthy foods and getting plenty of rest to mitigate stress.
Milestones:
Babies start developing their motor and sensory systems in the uterus.
- Touch is the first sensation that they develop. By 11 weeks, they begin using their hands and feet to feel the environment and their own bodies.
- Your baby’s ears develop by about 27 weeks of gestation, your baby can respond to sounds and vibrations such as your heartbeat or ultrasound when applied to your baby. As time goes by, they will also start recognizing and responding to your and your partner’s voice as well.
- Eyesight also starts developing during pregnancy, but it is not as clear as hearing. At birth, a child’s vision is mostly blurry.
Baby Brain Development Stages
Image courtesy: iStock
From birth to the first twelve months of a baby, there are three main processes that take place.
One such process is neurons making new connections with one another. This helps to wire together different parts of the brain that need to work together and communicate effectively.
Pruning is the second process. Early on, the brain makes extra cells and connections for flexibility, but then it finds that there are connections that it doesn’t really need. It is the brain’s way of removing connections in the brain that are extra or no longer needed.
The third process is white matter development or myelination. The process begins around birth and is most rapid in the first two years and continues almost as late as 30 years of age. This process neurons get used up and they are wrapped in a little coating of white matter. It helps messages to travel faster and more efficiently.
Here are your baby’s developmental milestones from birth to 1 year old.
Baby Brain Development Stages and Milestones: 0 to 6 months
- In the first three months, your newborn will go from wobbly-headed to being able to lift its head and chest. They will learn to smile and grasp things in their hands. Their visions also start to get better and they are able to recognize faces from afar.
- Around the four to six months stage, your baby will start to raise their arms and eventually sit up if helped to a sitting position. They will get hold of more objects and try sticking them in their mouths. By this time, they will also start distinguishing colors and different patterns. Some babies in this stage may also begin babbling and learning to sense different emotions from different voice tones.
Baby Brain Development Stages: 6 months to 1 year
- By the time your baby turns nine months old, they will be able to roll over and even sit up without much help. Their babbling will start to make a little more sense. You will find your little one getting more anxious around strangers because at this stage they have learned to recognize family members.
- When they are around one, the baby’s cognition improves drastically. They can also learn to respond to requests and utter words like “Mumma,” “Daddy” among others.
Child Brain Development Stages
Child Brain Development Stages: 1 to 3 years old
At this stage, complex brain functions start to develop, aside from the sensory and motor developments. There are developments in the brain that support logic, reasoning, and emotional processing.
Milestones:
- By this time, your baby is learning to speak in short sentences
- They are also learning to walk, climb, kick and draw
- In this age group, your kids are able to follow basic instructions and have conversations
- They are also able to point to objects like books and get excited about the kids around them
Child Brain Development Stages: 4 to 6 years of age
Image courtesy: File image
During this time, the fusion between myelination and pruning continues, enabling your child to learn complex concepts and skills.
The big one is ‘how to read‘ and this skill is quite new. Experts say that there is nothing in our DNA that’s specifically designed to help us read.
So by the time your child is four years old, they will learn to read because they are able to link languages, cognitive and visual processing regions together and more efficiently.
In contrast, a two-year-old won’t be able to do the same.
Milestones:
- Typically kids in this age group will start reading
- They will also be able to count, identify colors, sing rhymes, and complete tasks. You will also find them staying calm amidst unexpected changes, and also learn to play with friends.
Elizabeth Norton, Ph.D., director of the Language, Education and Reading Neuroscience Lab at Northwestern University, tells Fatherly that a parent won’t be able to understand if their child’s brain is developing normally or not.
So the best way to benchmark is to look for milestones at each stage. For instance, when a toddler learns to smile or starts speaking in sentences.
These milestones are essentially manifestations of new connections that are being made inside your child’s developing brain.
Parents do need to remember that all these milestones are not set in stone. So please don’t be alarmed if your child’s brain development is not in line with the age at which most kids experience them.
You can discuss with your baby’s pediatrician if you are concerned about a missed milestone. Having said that, do not forget to enjoy your baby’s growth journey with each day bringing something new.
How to Boost Brain Development of a Baby
You support you give to your baby’s brain development is crucial, especially during the early child brain development stages. These formative years lay the foundation for cognitive, emotional, and motor skills. Below are effective strategies to enhance your baby’s brain development:
1. Engage them in Interactive Play
Interactive play is essential for brain growth during the child brain development stages. You can try activities like peek-a-boo, playing with toys, and engaging in simple games. These activities can help stimulate sensory and cognitive skills of your baby.
- Infants (0-6 Months): Use brightly colored toys and rattles to engage their visual and auditory senses.
- Toddlers (1-3 Years): Encourage building blocks, puzzles, and shape sorters to develop problem-solving skills.
2. Read and Talk to Your Baby
Reading aloud and talking to your baby from birth is a powerful way to support brain development. During the child brain development stages, this exposure to language helps build vocabulary and cognitive skills.
- Infants: Read simple books with large pictures and talk about daily activities.
- Toddlers: Introduce more complex stories and engage in conversations to expand their language skills.
3. Provide a Nutritious Diet
A well-balanced diet is crucial for brain development across all child brain development stages. Essential nutrients like omega-3 fatty acids, iron, and vitamins support cognitive function. Ensure your baby’s diet includes:
- Infants: Breast milk or formula, and as they grow, pureed fruits, vegetables, and cereals.
- Toddlers: A variety of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and lean proteins.
4. Encourage Physical Activity
Physical activity supports motor development and overall brain health. During the child brain development stages, activities like tummy time, crawling, and walking contribute to neural development.
- Infants: Tummy time to strengthen muscles and coordination.
- Toddlers: Safe exploration through walking, climbing, and active play.
5. Create a Stimulating Environment
A stimulating environment can enhance brain development throughout the child brain development stages. Surround your baby with age-appropriate toys, books, and sensory materials.
- Infants: Soft, textured toys and colorful mobiles.
- Toddlers: Interactive toys, art supplies, and educational games.
6. Foster Emotional Bonding
Secure emotional attachment is vital for baby’s brain development. Responsive parenting helps build trust and emotional security, which are crucial during the child brain development stages.
- Infants: Cuddling, talking softly, and responding to their needs promptly.
- Toddlers: Positive reinforcement, consistent routines, and nurturing interactions.
7. Limit Screen Time
Excessive screen time can negatively impact baby’s brain development. During the child brain development stages, it is important to limit screen exposure and focus on interactive, real-world activities.
- Infants: Avoid screen time, focusing instead on face-to-face interaction.
- Toddlers: Limit screen use to a small amount of time and choose high-quality educational content.
8. Encourage Social Interaction
Social interaction plays a crucial role in brain development. Letting your child engage with other children and adults helps build social skills and emotional understanding.
- Infants: Playdates and social gatherings with other babies.
- Toddlers: Group activities and playgroups to develop social and communication skills.
By incorporating these strategies, you can effectively support and boost your baby’s brain development through the various child brain development stages, ensuring a strong foundation for their future growth and learning.
Republished with permission from theAsianparent Singapore