Brain Development

Preschool is important to every child for a number of reasons.

 

Research shows that 90% of a child’s brain develops by the age of 3, and higher thinking skills are at their peak of development between the ages of 3 and 5. Children who experience age-appropriate stimulation and learning opportunities from birth to age 5 are more highly developed than their peers who do not.

 

Having your child in a quality preschool environment will expose him or her to age-appropriate activities that will increase brain development, as well as teaching important socialization skills. What looks like play to adults is the most important learning a child can do. 

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Click here to learn more.

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Serve and Return Interactions

One of the most essential experiences in shaping the architecture of the developing brain is "serve and return" interaction between children and significant adults in their lives. Young children naturally reach out for interaction through babbling, facial expressions, and gestures, and adults respond with the same kind of vocalizing and gesturing back at them.

 

This back-and-forth process is fundamental to the wiring of the brain, especially in the earliest years. Watch the video on the right to learn more and see "serve and return" in action.

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Positive Parenting Practices

Babies and toddlers are learning about the world around them from the moment they enter the world. There are simple things parents can do during every day activities to support this early learning process. Learn more here (in English and Spanish).