#5for5 campaign: the brain science that shapes a child国产视频檚 life

Brains are like buildings 国产视频� they are built from the bottom up. The foundations are there right from the start, 国产视频渃onstructed国产视频� through a complex process that begins even before a child is born.

In the first 1000 days between pregnancy and age two, more than 700 new neural connections are formed every second 国产视频� at no other time in someone国产视频檚 life will their brain develop so rapidly.

And by the time a child is just five years old, 90% of the brain will be fully developed.

国产视频淭he brain is most flexible, or 国产视频榩lastic,国产视频� early in life to accommodate a wide range of environments and interactions,国产视频� say researchers from the Center on the Developing Child at Harvard University.

国产视频淪ensory pathways like those for basic vision and hearing are the first to develop, followed by early language skills and higher cognitive functions.国产视频�

That国产视频檚 why proper nurturing care and stimulation is vital during the early years of a child国产视频檚 life. The first year of a baby国产视频檚 life is when the brain begins to understand the complexities of language 国产视频� and those early experiences are the building blocks for later learning.聽

The #5for5 campaign launched last week by 国产视频 国产视频� the children国产视频檚 charity behind A World at School 国产视频� focuses on the importance of early childhood development.

国产视频 is calling for people to put pressure on world leaders to take urgent action to ensure all children aged zero to five have access to the five areas of nurturing care needed for a child to get the best start in life 国产视频� nutrition, health, learning, play and protection.

But birth isn国产视频檛 the point when a child国产视频檚 brain goes into developmental overdrive. That starts in the mother国产视频檚 womb.

国产视频淏rain development begins within a week of conception. At birth about 100 billion neurons, or brain cells, have been produced,国产视频� experts from the early years organisation zerotothree.org told 国产视频.

国产视频淭hese brain cells have not only spent time travelling to the right places in the brain 国产视频� they are also are beginning to connect with one another.

国产视频淒uring the prenatal period, brain cells are already busy sending and receiving messages about touch, hearing and movement. The sense of taste, smell and sensitivity to light are also beginning to develop.

国产视频淲hile most of the newborn国产视频檚 brain cells are formed during the prenatal period, the brain is not completely developed at birth. Much of the connecting neurons and strengthening of those connections take place after birth.

国产视频淭he way brain cells connect and develop will be influenced by the newborn国产视频檚 experiences with adults and their environments.国产视频�

The researchers from Harvard University in the United States say the brain is most flexible in the early years 国产视频� but this changes as the child gets older. After that initial burst of rapid growth, connections are reduced so that brain circuits become more efficient.

In the first year of a child国产视频檚 life, sensory pathways like those for vision and hearing are the first to develop, followed by early language skills.

国产视频淔rom the prenatal period through the first years of life, the brain undergoes its most rapid development and early experiences determine whether its architecture is sturdy or fragile,国产视频� say the team in a paper called The Science of Early Childhood Development.

Genes are important in the development of a brain. But so too are experiences 国产视频� especially the interaction between children and their parents or caregivers.

国产视频淵oung 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,国产视频� say the Harvard team.

国产视频淚n the absence of such responses 国产视频� or if the responses are unreliable or inappropriate 国产视频� the brain国产视频檚 architecture does not form as expected, which can lead to disparities in learning and behaviour.国产视频�

With many children living through the ongoing trauma of conflicts, disasters and abuse, the effects of 国产视频渢oxic stress国产视频� cannot be ignored.

It damages the developing brain, which can lead to lifelong problems in learning, behaviour, and physical and mental health.