Show Did you know the brain develops faster in the first five years of life than at any other point? Studies have shown that the human brain is never more receptive than it is during this time period. We hear about the importance of early education more and more in the media and from policy makers, as research consistently confirms that patterns of learning through age 5 are closely linked to achievement later in life. If we think about the skills we want from our future workforce, they are skills often associated with high-quality early education, such as teamwork, communication skills, adaptability and empathy. Clearly the first five years present a real window of opportunity for a child’s brain development and therefore early education. While many parents know early education is valuable, they are often unaware of the science and research behind brain development and learning. Understanding the basics behind these two important areas of study can help you encourage your child’s cognitive growth during a critical time in her life. Early Brain Development Babies are born with more than 100 billion nerve cells in their brains. Learning occurs when these nerve cells, or neurons, connect with each other through synapses. By age 5, more than 85 percent of a child’s core brain structure has already developed. It’s hard to wrap our heads around this, but it essentially means that a child’s brain is more receptive to learning during the first five years of his life than at any other point in time. By age 6, synapses that are not frequently used begin to delete themselves. This explains why learning a second language as a child is so much easier than learning one as an adult! If you’re interested in digging deeper into the science of early childhood development, Harvard University’s Center on the Developing Child created a helpful interactive web feature that explores core concepts. How Children Learn Now that we’ve covered the basic science behind why early education is important, let’s consider how children learn. Leading researchers in the field of early education have developed theories on how children learn – theories that are also beneficial for parents to keep in mind as they help their child learn and grow. Most widely recognized early learning theories can be categorized into one of three major buckets: child-initiated, teacher-guided and social-emotional.
When it comes to early learning, Primrose shares the same goal as parents: we aim to maximize a child’s learning during a very important time in his life. We believe, and our outcomes show, that the most effective way to help each child reach his full potential is to ensure he is exposed to information in different ways using a balance of learning theories. That’s the foundation of the Primrose Schools Balanced Learning® approach. While we know that all children have different learning styles and needs, one thing is certain: all children will learn more if purposeful steps are taken by parents and teachers to encourage cognitive development and build those brain connections early on. The foundation of skills children build in the first five years of life affects their learning and success later on, making early education all the more critical to prepare children not only for elementary school but for life. Find a Primrose School Near YouInspire a lifelong love of learning. Contact your local Primrose to schedule a tour. Find A School > Why is the first five years of a child important?In fact children's brains develop connections faster in the first five years than at any other time in their lives. This is the time when the foundations for learning, health and behaviour throughout life are laid down. Babies are born ready to learn, and their brains develop through use.
Are the first five years of a child's life the most important?One of the most critical stages of development and learning is from birth to five years old. The first five years of child development are crucial to their health, wellbeing, and the overall trajectory of their lives in a variety of ways.
Why are the early years of a child's life so important to their development?The quality of a child's early experiences makes a critical difference as their brains develop, providing either strong or weak foundations for learning, health and behaviour throughout life. In the first few years of life, more than one million neural connections are formed each second – a pace never repeated again.
What happens the first 5 years of child development?In the first five years of life, your child's brain develops more and faster than at any other time in his life. Your child's early experiences – his relationships and the things he sees, hears, touches, smells and tastes – stimulate his brain, creating millions of connections.
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