Let's Build Strong Children

Science has shown that the human brain is malleable, and plasticity continues throughout life.  However, the period between the last trimester of pregnancy through the first two years of life is the most critical point of development as it produces 250,000 cells every minute at its peak (Music, 2011).  So, why are we NOT focused on this prime time to influence healthy development?  Let’s say yes to educating pregnant parents about keeping stress levels down and good nutrition up.  After all, stress, neglect, and traumatic events can lead to atrophy in parts of the brain (Music, 2011).  As early childhood professionals, we are teachers in the classrooms, parent partners to our students’ primary caregivers, and early childhood development educators to our community partners/leaders (in this case, policy makers).  Research is suggestive of the importance of children and their relationships with caregivers (Lindsey, 2000).  Relationships with responsive, caring, and warm caregivers give way to children with better abilities to deal with stress and trauma later in life.  Therefore, it is vital that we early childhood educators are warm, patient and responsive to positively impact the children of our tomorrow.  To move this forward, let’s educate our colleagues, parents, and community leaders of this important fact.  It is in the best interest of our country that we start advocating to support the development of our children today so that they will be appropriately equipped as adults to manage our world tomorrow.  After all, “It is easier to raise strong children than to repair broken men” (Frederick Douglass). 

References

Lindsey, G. (2000). Brain Research And Implications For Early Childhood Education, 2(Winter

      1998).
Music, G.  (2011).  Nurtuing Natures.  New York, NY:  Psychology Press.