Assessment Brain Development

5 pts Identify 10 environmental implications that affect brain

development.
1. Brain and Neural System
2. The Power of Early Experience
3. Emotional Development
4. Supporting Healthy Brain Development
5. Exercise and Neural Development
6. Music and Neural Development
7. Immune System
8. Exercise
9. Quality Sleep
10.Immunodeficiency
10 pts According to the article Keys to Enhancing Brain Development in
Young Children, in your own words, summarize your response to
Laying the Foundation of Learning.
Write your paper on a separate page. Follow typical rules of grammar,
spelling and punctuation. Use a 12 pt font, 1 line spacing, and one inch
margins.
5 pts List the critical windows of development and the ages that they
occur.
1. Prenatal Period From conception to birth
2. Infancy Period From birth to eighteen to twenty four months
3. Early Childhood Period From the end of infancy to five or six
years old
4. Middle and Late Childhood Period From six to eleven years old
5. Adolescence Period From childhood to early adulthood 10 12
to 18 20 years old
5 pts In what sequential fashion does the brain develop? Name in order
of development.
1. Cognitive Development ( ability to learn and solve problems )
2. Social and Emotional Development ( children interacting with
others )
3. Speech and Language Development ( childs ability to
understand and use language )
4. Fine Motor Skill Development ( the use of small muscles )
5. Gross Motor Skill Development ( the use of large muscles )
5 pts Name the parts of the brain and what part of the body it controls.
Cerebrum the thinking part of the brain that controls voluntary muscles
Cerebellum helping the motor and none motor regions work well, controls
ones balance Limbic System is considered to control emotions and
regulates temperature
Brain Stem the part of the brain that connects the rest of the brain to the
spinal cord, responsible for functioning breathing, heart weight, and
digestion
Pituitary Gland part of brain connecting the rest of brain to hypothalamus ,
producing hormones, that stimulate glands, like adrenal, thyroid, and ovaries

/30 Comments:
With the chance at sounding arrogant, being amongst children for as
long as I have I thought all these courses Im taking would just be a
refresher for everything I already know, but this assessment really
was something I never really thought about until now. I was amazed
that the brain has this many functions. As far as the periods of
development, I didnt realize it stretched out throughout all those
years. I was familiar with the early childhood stage and adolescence
period, everything else was really brand new to me. I also have a
new understanding for how much the environment plays a role in
brain development, once again familiar with a few of them not
grasping the whole dynamic of what it is all about. To sum it all up, I
learned a lot.

The first step in helping a child obtain the Fundamentals of

Learning is by providing a safe, secure, and predictable
environment. This starts from infancy and goes throughout
childhood, the beginnings of a childs brain development. The
environment is created by using practical guidelines, such as
responding warmly and quickly to cues a child gives when in need of
support or attention. A baby can benefit from close, positive
relationships with adults. By experiencing love from parents and
others of having needs met, like food and comfort, this reassures
them that people can be counted on. Without the means of
expressing themselves, an infant puts out signals by the sound they
make, how they move, facial expressions, and seeking or avoiding
contact. For example, a baby could be crying if in need of a diaper
change, an infant could be looking away when done playing, and
toddlers will hold up their arms when wanting to be picked up.
Children become attached to parents and caregivers when they are
responding to certain signals, sensitivity, timing, warmth, and
appropriateness. By showing sensitivity a person learns to become
aware of the signal, and figuring out how to respond. As far as
timing, a quick response to signals instead of waiting for a long
time. By being gentle and caring when responding to a childs
cues, theres a feeling of warmth and trust. Finally, when referring
to appropriateness to give a child the proper response to a childs
needs for support or attention. There has been research done that
suggest that a childs development improves when these practical
guidelines happen.

Fundamentally important things a parent can do are hold,

touch, and snuggle with a child, so they feel a sense of security. An
infant who doesnt experience any touch, the body and brain will
stop growing in a healthy manner. The act of physical touching can
help premature babies with the ability to gain weight in a quick
pace and help the healthy babies digest food better. A hug, touch
on the hand or a high five, touch is important for young children to
grow. Children, who dont get caring, physical touches, will not get
the affection that helps them gain a sense of trust with others. An
infant life line to security, attachment, and reassurance, is brought
about through touch.

A child who experiences too much stimulation, can become

stressed and hurt a childs development. There are parents who
worry about a childs brain development, looking into many
resources, like educational toys, videos, computers and language
tapes. A child will benefit from the freedom of exploring on their
own terms instead of all this constant high level stimulation. A
brain is developed through hands on experiences, but stress can
make this development suffer.

With research that is done on the brain indicates that too

much stress early on can affect ones development negatively. The
brain can become vulnerable to the chances of destroying brain
cells, reducing connections in the brain, making emotional
responses and attachments smaller than normal. Children with high
stress or abuse can develop certain responses that are considered
to be because of fear, high arousal, and anxiety, a difficulty learning
emotional responses, such as being calm and controlled. There are
four steps to create a safe environment. They are having safe toys
and play environments, always making sure the children remain
safe. Revealing a sense of comfort to sick children or feeling any
other type of stress. Parents can help by reducing their own stress
and being gentle with their own children. Finally, by keeping a close
eye on the children to make sure they are protected from the
interaction with a possible abusive individual. With new kinds of
experiences, activities and stimulation can create growth in the
brain, with hours after being exposed to the experiences.