Genes provide the blueprint for early brain development, but environmental factors determine a brain’s strengths and weaknesses.
Violence and conflict in the home can have detrimental consequences to a developing baby. A child does not have to be the direct recipient of the violence to be a victim. Simply experiencing a toxic home environment can produce negative consequences on a child. The more frequent and the more violent conflicts are, the more susceptible the child will be. The consequences, both physically and psychologically, of a chaotic home environment can last a lifetime.
The research suggests that there are four key dimensions of readiness: language and literacy, thinking skills, self-control, and self-confidence. These capacities develop during the earliest years of a child's life and provide a solid foundation for kindergarten readiness and later academic success. There is much that parents and other caregivers can do to support the development of school readiness skills.
Children under five are the most diverse group of Americans. Effective early childhood programs can play a key role in helping to promote the optimal early social, emotional and cognitive development of immigrant children.
Often dismissed as childish, play may actually be the most important way for young children to grow, learn about their surroundings, and build stronger brains. Play allows young children to hone their attention spans and to learn to focus on specific tasks.
