May 21, 2018

A Million Reasons to Learn About Baby Brain Development

By: Steven A. Ramos, MBA CLSS, Owner of LeafSpring School at Geist

The latest research is clear: A child’s brain undergoes an amazing period of development from birth to three, producing more than a million neural connections each second causing the baby’s brain to change rapidly. There’s a big difference between the first two months of life and the span from 18 to 24 months.

The development of the brain is influenced by many factors, including a child’s relationships, experiences and environment. That is why our school, LeafSpring School, builds strong relationships with every child and have age appropriate detailed lesson plans to maximize learning including cognitive, sensory, art, music, STEM, literacy, dual language and social sciences. This dramatically influences the child’s future health and success in school and life.

Twenty years ago we didn’t understand the brain development capabilities of a young child. Our children went to daycares that watched and entertained them while moms and dads were at work. It seemed fine. We didn’t know the difference and after all, they are just kids.

Today we know, through Harvard research and others, that the brain of a child continues to develop until they are 5 years old, building one million neuron connections a second. It is the most important learning time of their life. Today’s top schools, like LeafSpring School, have developed curriculum that maximizes learning from language, sensory, manipulative, music, art, math and even science. Teaching at this age is the most important job in the world.

The State of Indiana and our nation are investing millions of dollars to raise the quality of learning at this age through grants such as OECOSL – Indiana House Enrolled Act 1004. Indiana has developed a 4 tier Paths to Quality program that emphasizes achieving Level 3 and Level 4 accreditation. Nonprofit institutions like AdvancED and the National Association for the Education of Young Children are leading the way to set the standards for schools that will help to maximize the learning of our nation’s children.

The day of the “daycare” is long gone. The world has changed and it will continue to advance.

LeafSpring School acknowledges that early child development is one of the most important jobs in the world. Our vision is to be the Standard of Excellence in early childhood education. As an Indiana school, LeafSpring School will achieve the highest levels of education accreditation in our nation. As a top school our child development, behavior and decision-making processes are focused on our student’s future health and success in school and life.

Tomorrow is shaped by the decisions of today. If you have a young child or a planning one in the future choosing early learning centers that maximize learning is critically important for your child. Choose those that have the highest levels of accreditation.

Sources:

• https://developingchild.harvard.edu/science/key-concepts/brain-architecture/
• https://www.zerotothree.org/resources/1893-a-million-reasons-to-learn-about-baby-brain-development

 

Original article published on LinkedIn.