Off t o a Good Start:
Birth - 5 Years
The Things that Build the Brain
Our Purpose
To tell y o u this story:
Simple things build a child’s brain.
There are things that we can do.
It’s never too late.
And t h a t it can m a k e all t h e
difference in school and in life.
Along with Family,What Else Builds
a Child’s Brain?
Family
Thinking
Learning
Memory
Genes
Home
Habits
Off t o a Good Start
Basic Ingredients t o Build a Brain =
1
2
3
High Quality Food
Lots of Free Play
Enriching Experiences
From birth to age
3 years the brain
triples in size.
Brain growth is all about connections.
Enriching experiences wire brain cells together.
Quality Nutrition.
builds, fuels, and maintains the brain
- Vitamin B1, B6, B12
- FRUITS
- CARBOHYDRATES
- Iodine
- Lutein
- FATS
- Zinc
- Vitamins C & D
- DAIRY
- Vitamin E
- Flavonoids
- Iron
- Omega-3 Fatty Acids
- WHOLE GRAINS
- PROTIENS
- VEGETABLES
Play
is a powerful teacher.
- Emotional expression
- CREATIVITY
- Adaptation
- Role-playing
- Hand skills
- Muscle skills
- Language
- Cooperation
- IMAGINATION
- Confidence
- Coordination
Children w h o e a t nutritious
food and ha v e lots of
opportunity t o play and
b e active are healthier,
t he y ha v e fewer childhood
illnessess and long-term
risk for obesity, heart
disease, type 2 diabetes,
a s thm a, and s l e e p apnea.
Cerebrum
What Develops First?
Ventricles
Hypothalamus
Pituitary
Gland
Cerebellum
The Middle Brain
Emotional Outbursts
Fear
Anxiety
Impulsive Actions
Stress
Brain Ste m
The middle brain
is where we react to stress.
Movement
Touch
Intelligence
a nd
Personality
What Develops Slower?
The Front Brain
Plans Ahead
Thinks First
Multi-tasks
Logical
Organized
Sight
Brainstem
Hearing
The front brain
is where we learn to
control stress.
Enriching Experiences &
New Challenges
Develop t h e Front Brain
Some are Positive Experiences
that strengthen the child
- Curiosity
- Motivation
- Grit
- Exploration
- Confidence
- Perserverance
Some are Negative Experiences that
weaken the child
- Fear
- Unsocial
- Irritibility
- Impulsiveness
- Anxiety
- Poor self-control
- Frustration
Can We Help to Protect a Child?
Caring & Sharing The nurturing support
of a positive adult-child
interaction
Think of All t h e Nurturers
at home, in child care, in preschool, in church, and in
the community?
Communication
Coping
Negotiation
Team work
Problem-solving
Self-control
Sharing
Adults w h o care
help a child build social and emotional skills a source of strength as they grow.
Does it Work?
The Carolina ABC Study
Poor children given day care from 0-5 years of age.
40 years later… More years of school
4x more likely to graduate college and hold a skilled
job more active, less obese fewer risk factors for heart
disease or diabetes.
There are Simple Things We Can Do
Quality Food
AChance to Play
An Enriched World
Family
Thinking
Learning
Memory
The
Community
Caring
&
Sharing
It’s Never Too Late
Go Back t o School
Tell t h e Story