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Brain Growth and Development

A peek at the early stages of brain development and how early childhood education encourages brain growth, memory and language development in babies and young preschool children.

At birth, a baby's brain already has 100,000,000,000 cells.  This is about the same number of stars in the Milky Way.  Unlike the rest of a new baby's body, the brain is not complete at birth.  In order to start working, the cells need to communicate with each other.  As a baby starts to experience life, connections are made between cells - the more connections there are, the more the brain can do.

A baby's brain develops so fast that by age two a child who is developing normally has the same number of connection as an adult.  By age three, a child has TWICE as many brain connections as an adult.

Early milestones in brain growth. 4 months: The infant's brain responds to every sound produced in all the languages of the world.

8 to 9 months: Babies can form specific memories from their experiences, such as how to push a ball to make it roll.

10 months: Babies can now distinguish and even produce the sounds of their own language (such as "da-da") and no longer pay attention to the sounds of language that are foreign.

12 months: Babies whose parents say, for example, "Lookeee at the doggiee," will go to the appropriate picture of a dog in a picture book more often than those babies who are talked to in normal, flatter voices.

12 to 18 months: Babies can keep in memory something that has been hidden and find it again, even if it has been completely covered up.  They can also hold memory sequences of simple activities, such as winding up a Jack-in-the-box until the figure pops up.

24 months: Preschool children now have clear pictures in mind of people who are dear to them, and they get upset when separated from these people (even their peers).

30 months:  Preschool children can hold in mind a whole sequence of spatial maps and know where things are in their environment.

36 months:  A preschool child can now hold two different emotions in his mind at the same time, such as being sad that he spilled ice cream on his clothes but glad that he's at a birthday party.

How   Preschool   Education   Helps

Brain Development**

Morning Greeting

Whenever an adult speaks directly and personally to a preschool child, cascades of impulses go through the child's neurons (nerve cells), which are connected to one another by synapses.  The repetition of these kinds of positive early interactions actually helps the brain reinforce the existing connections and make new ones.

Finger play

By a couple of months of age, babies can process the emotional contours of language (prosody), which means they tune in to the emotional variations in your voice. (In fact, toddlers can memorize nursery rhymes because rhymes have prosody!)  As the preschool teacher raises her voice an octave and draws out her vowels, the child's brain responds by sending even more chemical and electrical impulses across the synapses.

Story time

Early childhood teachers are careful to have small groups for story time so that preschool children are able to get involved and process information.  Young children need real interactions in order to learn.  As she reads, the teacher will use melodic voice tones to ensure children's involvement and learning.

Free play / Work time

During free play, preschool children interact with one another.  As they communicate, whether through beginning language or more sophisticated use of words, the neurons in their brains are making more connections, critical for reinforcing learning.

Snack 

Further opportunities for communication lead to the repetition of impulses sent through the brain.  The more repetition that goes on, the more the brain grows sure in its understanding.  Repetition of language sounds is crucial to brain development.

Circle time

As the early childhood caregiver focuses her attention on each individual child in the large group activity, the child must think about the topic for the day.  The child's brain will be active as he/she retrieves from memory something special in her own personal history that she has learned. Each day children reap the benefits of preschool education.

**Brain development information from an article in Scholastic   Parent & Child,  by Alice Sterling Honig, Ph.D. April/May 1999

                                 

Training Opportunities for Child Care Providers and Parents

City of Sunnyvale  FALL 2011

Parent & Child Care Provider Workshop Series

Youth and Family Resources

785 Morse Avenue

Sunnyvale, CA  94085

Register Today: 408-523-8150/ childcare.inSunnyvale.com

EARLY CARE AND EDUCATION CLASSES

for Licensed Family Child Care Providers

1.     CHILD OBSERVATION

Saturday, September 10, 10:00 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.

Location: Sunnyvale Senior Center, Laurel Room, 550 E. Remington Dr.

Learn to critically analyze assessment tools, as well as the appropriate use of documentation and portfolios.  Participants will explore ways to use their observations to support children, families and program development.

Topics include:

• Observation techniques
• Developmentally appropriate standards and observation
• Making good use of observation results
• Culturally and linguistically appropriate assessments

2.     Promoting Children’s Success  (2-Day Class)  

Day 1: Thursday, October 6, 6:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m. 
Day 2: Saturday, October 8, 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.

Location: Sunnyvale Senior Center, Laurel Room, 550 E. Remington Dr.

Children’s challenging behavior continues to be the number one concern of teachers and caregivers.  The Center for the Social and Emotional Foundations for Early Learning (CSEFEL) has developed a framework, called the Teaching Pyramid Model, which considers ways to teach young children about appropriate behavior from a prevention perspective.  The Teaching Pyramid Model will address:

• Understanding the relationship between social emotional development and challenging behavior
• Practical strategies for building positive relationships with children while developing rules/structure
• Inviting cooperation

Workshops for Parents/Caregivers, Center Based/Family Child Care Providers:

1.     EXPANDING & IMPROVING YOUR CHILD CARE OR EARLY EDUCATION FACILITY

Tuesday, September 20, 6:30 – 8:30 p.m.

Location: Sunnyvale Community Center, Neighborhood Rm., 550 E. Remington Dr.

Are you interested in starting, expanding or improving your licensed child care business?  Kristen Anderson, PhD, an experienced preschool teacher, child care planner and author of the book “Planning for Child Care in California” will discuss:

• ways to leverage financial/business/technical assistance resources for improvement/renovation/repair or construction
• City and state requirements; facility and business management issues
• considerations in expanding from licensed small to large family child care or to a child care center/preschool
• how to establish a Sunnyvale licensed child care facility

2.     CRIANZA CON CARIÑO (Nurturing Parenting) –

(class offered ONLY in Spanish)

Empieza el 22 de Septiembre al 26 de Enero 2012, 6:00 – 8:00 p.m.

Un programa de 16-semanas los Jueves

Una cena ligera y cuidado de niños gratis.

Lugar: En la Escuela Ellis, Biblioteca, 550 E. Olive Avenue

En esta clase los padres aprenderan:

• cómo mejorar la comunicacion en la familia
• maneras de mantener la paciencia con sus niños
• cómo establecer límites y consecuencias apropriadas
• aprenda mas sobre las etapas de desarollo en los niños

3.     ARTS & ENRICHMENT

9:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m., Tuesdays & Thursdays, September 6 – September 29 & Wednesdays from October 12 – November 30

Location: Washington Park Building at 840 W. Washington Ave.

This eight-session interactive workshop series allows children to learn basic skills that will assist them in being comfortable in a classroom setting and may be helpful when transitioning into kindergarten. Children will get practice in writing their names, use of art tools, and can improve their fine motor skills development as they create. Parents will learn practical ways to incorporate art and literacy into the home environments while building positive and healthy connections with their child. This is a bilingual English/Spanish workshop for parents, caregivers and young children ages 0-5. Call (408) 684-4785 or email ealvarez@sjbcdc.org to register.

4.     SEEDS OF EARLY LITERACY FOR PARENTS

9:30 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. on Wednesdays from September 7 to October 5 (Spanish Only) and December 7 – January 18 or Tuesdays and Thursdays from November 8 to November 22. 

Location: Washington Park Building at 840 W. Washington Ave.

This five-session workshop series teaches parents and caregivers effective ways to interact with their children to promote social, emotional, language, and literacy development. Participants will learn the five key SEEDS that support early literacy: sensitivity, encouragement, education, development and self Image. For parents, caregivers and young children ages 0-5. Call (408) 684-4785 or email ealvarez@sjbcdc.org to register.

5.     OPENING DOORS

      9:30 a.m. – 11:00 a.m., Tuesdays and Thursday, October 4 – November 3
      and November 29 – January 12.

      Location: Washington Park Building at 840 W. Washington Ave.

This ten-session workshop series that focuses on parenting, leadership and advocacy for impacting children 0-5. Parents will learn about important aspects of child and family well-being: good health, social and emotional well-being, school readiness, and the economic well-being of the family. The series has one desired outcome: significantly increase the number of children in the community that succeed and create opportunities for children to reach their highest potential. There are two sessions to choose from. For parents, caregivers and young children ages 0-5. Call (408) 684-4785 or email ealvarez@sjbcdc.org to register.

6.     5 KEYS TO RAISING A HEALTHY, HAPPY EATER

      8:30 a.m. – 10:30 a.m., Friday, November 4.

      Location: Ellis Elementary  School, School Library, 550 E. Olive Ave.

      Free child care available.  Light refreshments will be served.

      This workshop will give parents and caregivers strategies to tackle common

      mealtime problems that can lead to poor child health and obesity.  This class is 

      taught by a registered dietition and helps participants instill good eating habits that
      can last a lifetime. This workshop will address: 

•      encouraging children to make healthier meal and snack choices
•      how to handle common mealtime problems
•      how to get a child to sit and eat at the table
•      what to do when a pediatrician recommends a weight loss and dietary change
       in your child

Workshops are offered in partnership with the UC Davis Center for Excellence in Child Development, First 5 Santa Clara County Learning Together Initiative, SJB Child Development Centers, The Health Trust, Santa Clara Family Health Plan, Family and Children’s Services and the Sunnyvale School District.

All workshops are free. Space is limited. Registration is Required.

TO REGISTER

Email: childcareresources@ci.sunnyvale.ca.us

Call:   City of Sunnyvale

Youth & Family Resources Office

Monday – Friday ▪ 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.

          (408) 523-8150

To view current parent/provider classes and community resources,

visit childcare.inSunnyvale.com

The City of Sunnyvale encourages persons with disabilities to participate in our programs.  We will make reasonable efforts to accommodate persons with disabilities in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act.  If you require special accommodations, contact (408) 523-8150, TDD (408) 730-7501 at least five days in advance of the program or activity.