Brain Development: How Children's Thinking Abilities Are Formed
For parents, there is probably nothing more wonderful than witnessing the developmental milestones of their children. When the little ones babble their first word or attempt their first crawling efforts, mom and dad almost burst with pride. The brain is primarily responsible for all the progress of the human body. It is a complex structure that enables humans to perceive and learn things. While, for example, the heart is built according to a fixed blueprint, the brain develops mainly through experiences. Whether smells, sounds, colors, or touches – all impressions affect the structure of the brain. Therefore, young children especially rely on the support of mom and dad during the first years of life. We have summarized the most important milestones in brain development and how parents can support their children's learning progress in this article.
How Baby Brain Development Progresses
Brain development begins as early as the third week of pregnancy in embryos. This is when the basic building blocks of the brain form. The importance of this organ later on is shown by the fact that in unborn babies, it accounts for more than half of the body size. Once the little ones are born, the nerve cells in the brain eagerly absorb all impressions, information, and signals. When children are repeatedly confronted with certain information, the brain tries to organize and network these – forming so-called contact points called synapses. Gradually, a complex network develops that enables children to recognize connections and act accordingly. For example, when babies reach the grasping stage at around 6 months, the brain is already networked enough to reliably pass commands to other nerve cells. The brain processes the impulse and initiates the grasping process. For every further developmental step, new networks and connections in the brain must be created.
These Are the Milestones in Brain Development
During the first year of life, connections in the brain are present but often still very loose. That is why it is important for experiences to solidify. This works best through careful observation. Parents should encourage their children's curiosity and repeatedly introduce them to new information. However, the brain continues to develop relentlessly even after the first year of life. An overview of the most important milestones in brain development:
The First Year of Life:
Children develop more rapidly than in any other year. The cerebrum triples in size. All important connections in the brain areas are networked, laying the foundation for further intellectual development. At the same time, abstract thinking begins. The little ones can now recall images in their memory even if they are not visible.
3rd – 4th Year of Life: The long-term memory develops.
5th Year of Life: The right and left hemispheres of the brain increasingly come into contact. This also connects the creative and logical areas of the brain. In this way, judgment and logical thinking begin in children.
6th Year of Life: Personal maturity steadily progresses. Both self-control and intellectual knowledge solidify. Whereas previously feelings and needs largely guided children's behavior, they now begin to behave reasonably. From now on, the little ones develop not only factual knowledge but also practice social behavior.
12th Year of Life: Spatial imagination and language skills are clearly developed.
How Parents Can Support Their Children's Brain Development
Brain development is mainly shaped by the experiences and events children are exposed to. These experiences form the basis for the complex networks in the brain. Especially after birth, parental attention and love are essential for healthy child development. Babies learn best when they feel completely safe and protected by mom and dad. In the first years of life, children must repeatedly be confronted with the same information so that the brain connections can solidify. A certain routine in everyday life can deepen this network. At the same time, parents should respond to their children's interests. For example, if the child is interested in painting, mom and dad should nurture this potential. Different colors, materials, or patterns can help with this. It is also important that parents set a good example. Swear words or slang can cause certain things to be "learned" incorrectly.
For Healthy Brain Development in Children: howa Wooden Toys
Not only can parents' behavior influence children's brain development, but the right toys also play a big role. Especially in the first years of life, it is important to encourage children's curiosity. Toys that dictate the play process and move or make sounds on their own can counteract this. Wooden toys from howa accompany children playfully in the learning process without preempting their creativity. Walker, motor skills cube, knock bench, or the motor skills toy “Musicbox” are made of wood and comply with European safety standards. Each element of the wooden toys serves a different purpose. While certain parts invite grasping and thus promote motor skills, others support children's musical sense and hearing development. By engaging extensively and repeatedly with the functions, children solidify processes in the brain. In this way, brain development is supported – children learn, among other things, different colors as well as grasping, knocking, and making music.
