Practical tips to
enhance brain
stimulation of your
child
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Brain development
starts early….
 Brain cells (neurons) form in first
months of fetal development
• Born with 100 billion brain cells
• Enough brain cells to learn just
about anything – no more are
developed after birth
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Early Experiences are Crucial
• Most brain cell connections are
made in 1st year.
• By age 3, 80% of nervous
connections are made.
• Connections decline after this
time to age 10.
• During first 10 yrs, brain is twice
as active as adults.
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Use it or Lose it
• What is not used is pruned.
• What is used develops stronger
connections.
• Develops in “spurts” when the
brain is best equipped to learn
certain skills.
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Early Brain Development
• Quality of relationships and experiences in first 3 years has
deep and lasting impact on how the brain gets “wired”.
• Plasticity is the brain’s ability to change, adapt and cope
with environmental changes
• Sets foundation for development in every aspect of life.
‘Cells that fire together, wire together’
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Babies are learning machines!
Good nutrition, positive interactions, and interesting stimulation,
fuel your infant's impressive brain development.
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Nutrients
Brain Friendly foods
Vitamins C and E
DHA and Essential fatty
acids
BREAST MILK
Iron and B-vitamins
Zinc and Iron
Selenium
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Docosahexanoic acid (DHA)
• DHA is an important fatty acid which has a critical role in retinal and
brain development
• The inter-conversion of precursors (LA and ALA) to long-chain
polyunsaturated fatty acids (AA & DHA) is rather inefficient as
children grow
• Thus, studies have shown that supplementation with LC-PUFAs can
positively affect both visual and cognitive outcomes, thus
highlighting children’s need for pre-formed DHA
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“Windows” of Learning
 Periods when particular experiences
are especially important or when some
skills are more easily developed.
 Some windows should not be missed…
if so, opportunity to learn can be
greatly diminished.
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Brain Development:
Windows of Opportunity
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Tips to stimulate babies’ brain
development
• Babies are born highly attuned to human stimuli- face, voice,
touch and it is through interaction that they do their best
learning.
• As the child grows, his cells connect to each other through
visual, motor, language and social stimulation.
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Learning
• Children with a secure bond to caregivers are
more ready to learn.
• Children learn by doing.
• Repetition in a variety of ways
– modeling, actions, verbally, etc.
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Language
• Children exposed to lots of language in reading,
singing, and talking develop more neuron
connections in the brain area that handles language.
• Children not involved in lots of verbal interaction
have brains that are measurably less developed.
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Thinking
• Exposure to lots of language is directly
linked with advanced thinking skills.
• Toddlers understand and can solve
more difficult problems at a younger
age than children in poor quality
environments.
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Playing brain-building games
• Choose games that make use of strategy,
build verbal skills, and improve
concentration powers and reasoning.
– Puzzles
- Stacking cubes
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Physical Activity
• Toddler brains thrive with the
opportunity to climb, play, splash, and
run.
• Exercise actually causes the parts of the
brain that control movement to develop
more neuron connections.
• For example, leaving a child in a playpen
or in front of TV all day slows motor
development.
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Overstimulation
• Overstimulation may result in frustration, stress,
or withdrawal.
• Too many new experiences at once may be
overwhelming and won’t help development.
• Child needs time to process what he/she has
learned.
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A Safe Environment for
Brain Development
 Reduce stress by making child’s world safe,
secure and responsive.
 Remove any physical threats.
 Responsive to crying.
 Predictable daily routines.
• Adequate nutrition & hydration.
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Positive Experiences for
Building the Young Brain
• Loving care & touch
• Consistent, individual attention
• Everyday, simple activities
• Exposure to new experiences
• Understand child development
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Positive Experiences for
Building the Young Brain
• Know child & what he/she is
capable of doing
• Music
• Limit television
• Read and respond to child’s
cues
• Talking
• Decorate child’s room
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Essentials for
Early Development
1. Encourage exploration.
2. Mentor in basic skills.
3. Celebrate developmental advances.
4. Rehearse and extend new skills.
5. Protect from inappropriate disapproval, teasing, neglect, and
punishment.
6. Communicate richly and responsively.
7. Guide and limit behavior; teach what is acceptable
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Thank You
Questions
www.pediatrie.mu
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