The Effects of Poverty and the Brain

I will had the wonderful opportunity to create awareness at the Poverty, Stress and the Brain Conference about the possible effects of poverty on the brain. I wanted to share with you a little about what was discussed.
 

As I’ve said many times before, brain research has demonstrated the enormous importance of the early years in determining a person's future success in learning and in life.  It is now known that a child’s brain continues to develop long after birth. The term “brain development” means more than just intelligence building. It means the actual structural changes that take place in the brain.

The experiences a child has in the early years activate the actual physical connections between brain cells that make the brain grow—in other words, the brain's "wiring." We now understand that school readiness is based on this brain wiring, 90% of which takes place before age 5. This wiring develops best when a child is exposed to a variety of positive experiences, such as hearing rich language, having opportunities to develop relationships with caring people, and learning through exploration.

However, negative experiences such as inadequate nutrition, substance abuse, maternal depression, exposure to environmental toxins, high levels of stress, trauma and abuse, lack of time to play in green spaces, sleep deprivation, and poor quality daily care affect a disproportionate number of children in low-income families.  While children in any economic status are vulnerable to these risk factors, children in poverty may often experience several negative factors simultaneously. 

Continual exposure to stress, limited stimulation, poor nutrition, little predictability, and lack of nurturing relationships all lead to types of brain wiring that can contribute to emotional and learning problems. Our brains physically adapt very early to cope with the environment to which we are exposed, sometimes with harmful results. Because poverty can impede opportunity for children and is a primary contributor to many of these negative risk factors, poverty directly effects brain development.

We need to create a broader awareness of the effect that poverty can have on children and ensure that everyone understands how to make a positive impact using this knowledge. We must also make sure everyone knows how dangerous it is for us to ignore this information. All children should be given the opportunity to be successful and have a well-developed brain no matter what income level they are born into. 

Next week, I will post more information about the Harlem Children’s Zone. This is a very effective program that is fighting the effects of poverty through understanding the importance of providing quality and comprehensive programs to children starting at birth. 

If you know of a program that is fighting poverty and is making a positive impact on the brains of children, please share it with others by leaving a comment below. 

We ALL benefit from ALL children with healthy brains!

Daily Brain Development Activity Packet Giveaway! Enter Now

To celebrate Brain Awareness Week, each day I will be giving away one braininsights brain development activity packet of the winner’s choice.  At the end of the week, I will also give away the entire Brain Development Series to one lucky winner!

The beautiful and unique braininsights brain development activity packets each hold 40 activity ideas created for you and your child, with one packet for each year from birth through five. Each activity includes a scientific research based explanation of how your child's brain benefits from the interaction. The information is provided in everyday language and is written from your child's point of view.

There are six ways to enter the giveaway, you may enter all six times.  All entries will be included in the daily and end of the week giveaway.

1. Subscribe to Early Childhood Brain Insights via Email. You can do this by entering your email address on the right sidebar or here. You must confirm your subscription with the Feedburner email sent to your own inbox.

2.  Leave a comment at the end of the post with something you found interesting in an Early Childhood Brain Insights post and which packet you would prefer.

3. Blog about this giveaway with a link back to Early Childhood Brain Insights.  Leave the URL of your blog post in the comment below for this option and which packet you would prefer.

4. Subscribe to the free monthly braininsights newsletter here.

5. Become a fan of Brain Insights Activity Packets on Facebook. Leave your Facebook ID/Name in the comments section below and which packet you would prefer.

6. Follow @braininsights on Twitter and Tweet the following: 
Win Brain Development Activity Packets from @braininsights here: http://www.braininsights.blogspot.com. 
Enter your Twitter ID and which packet you would prefer in the comments section below if you choose this option.

Contest Details: Contest ends on 3/21/2010 at 11:59 pm CST. United States residents only. Valid method of contact is required. All entries without a way to contact the winner will be disqualified. Winning email notification must be responded to within 24 hours or that winner will forfeit the prize and a new winner will be selected. Winner will be selected with the random integer generator at random.org. Winner’s first name will be posted here at Early Childhood Brain Insights. All questions should be directed to deb@braininsightsonline.com.

BRAIN FACT: The Brain Grows 90% By Age 5

The brain physically grows to 90% of its adult size by age 5. The brain connections that create this growth are primarily based on the experiences a child has in these early years.

What Is Better Than Healthy, Happy, Smart, Creative, and Loved Children?

There are not many things most people can think of that are better than this. And, the exciting thing is we know what contributes to making much of this possible for our children.

Due to scientific research we have a wealth of knowledge about what positively impacts optimal brain development. Implementing this knowledge leads to emotionally and cognitively healthy children.  The sad thing is, this is (for some unknown reason) still not common knowledge.

It is Brain Awareness Week…! Through a week dedicated to creating awareness we can all contribute to developing an understanding of the impact we can all have!

A child’s brain continues to develop long after birth. The term “brain development” refers to more than how smart a child is. It is the actual growth that takes place in the brain. The experiences a child has in the first few years creates the connections between brain cells and develops the foundation for relationships and learning throughout life.

Nutrition, sleep, regular routines, physical activity, play, and repeated positive experiences with caring adults, strengthens the connections to create the growth of a brain. This makes the brain healthy, ready to get along with others, and eager for more learning.

However, constant exposure to stress, limited stimulation, poor nutrition and lack of a nurturing relationship all create a brain being “wired” in a way that leads to emotional and learning problems. Growing brains adapt to the environment they are exposed to.  A brain will adapt to a negative environment just as easily as it will adapt to a positive environment

Understanding this makes us aware that adults in a child’s life can have a long-lasting impact.
Following are a few points to focus on and share.

Warm Responsive Care
        Children’s primary need is to know they are loved. This is only learned through consistent nurturing interactions with primary caregivers.

Talk
        The brain makes connections for learning language only from what a child hears. A child needs to hear lots of language throughout the day. Language is learned through direct interaction, not from a television or video.

Safe, Healthy Environment
        A variety of nutritious foods, a lead free and safe environment for a child to explore contributes to a well developed brain. A brain requires little stress and routines to feel safe and relaxed. Sleep and rest are also necessary to a healthy brain.

Play
        Play is the way the brain learns about the world. Lots of interaction and exploration help the brain form connections that make later learning easier. Play outdoors additionally impacts brain development in healthy ways.

What a child’s brains need most is adults that understand development. Parents and medical professionals that are aware and well educated on brain development can provide all that a growing brain needs most. Early childhood educators also play a vital role in partnering with a parent to share in implementing this valuable knowledge. Through working together we can ensure all children receive the experiences that will most positively impact long lasting brain connections.

        ~ We ALL benefit when ALL children have well developed brains! ~

Throughout this important week we can all work together to FINALLY make this common knowledge!!!

Prepare to Celebrate and Benefit! ~ Brain Awareness Week March 15-21

Next week is designated as Brain Awareness Week. This gives you a chance to learn more, celebrate the week, and to create broader awareness! Through out the week there will be a daily:

• Blog Posting on brain topics
• New Fun Brain Facts
• Giveaways
• Family activity ideas on the braininsights website

Check back on Monday and through out the week to take part in Brain Awareness Week or subscribe here so you don't miss any of Brain Awareness Week!

Happy Birthday Dr. Seuss!

Today is the birthday of the beloved children's author Dr. Seuss and NEA's Read Across America.  On Friday I told you about reading activities, events, and the importance of reading in brain development here.  For more information Parenting.com has a great article with ideas of how to introduce a baby to reading and great activities to do while reading.  Check it out here.

So don't forget to break out your favorite Dr. Seuss book today and everyday and read to the child in your life. 

Read Across America

"Children are made readers on the laps of their parents."
                                   ~ Emilie Buchwald

For the past 13 years the National Education Association (NEA) celebrates and honors Dr. Seuss’ birthday on March 2nd with Read Across America.  The goal of this day is to have every child in the U.S. reading in the company of a caring adult.

This is such a great goal.  Reading has so many benefits for a developing brain.   When a child is read to cells in the brain are triggered within seconds.  Some existing connections in the brain are strengthened while new connections are formed.  This helps create a more defined and complex wiring of the brain that will benefit a child for the rest of their life.  Reading to a child is so important that the American Academy of Pediatrics now recommends that Pediatricians prescribe reading activities to parents during their well child visits. Children who are read to at home have a higher success rate in school and the National Commission on Reading found that reading aloud to a child is the single most important intervention for developing literacy skills.

Literacy skills development isn’t the only brain benefit that results from reading to a child.  Even reading to an infant is extremely valuable.  When reading a book, the child has the opportunity for visual stimulation, and hearing words.  A child needs to experience direct language.  Television and DVD’s do not provide the interactive language the brain needs.  The time spent cuddling while reading is also very important.  This closeness helps the brain make valuable connections contributing to healthy emotional development.  Young babies find the sound of the voice reassuring and calming.

Books also provide a way for children to gain new perspectives and learn about people, places and things outside of their immediate environment.  Reading with children also presents the possibility for children to open up about feelings or things that are bothering them in a comfortable way.

Unfortunately only 53% to 58% of children ages 3 to 5 are read to daily.  Wouldn’t it be wonderful if 100% of children were read to daily?  “Read Across America” is a great effort toward this goal.  Starting this weekend there are reading events across the country. I invite you to share this information with everyone. Post it on your social networking sites and tell educators or people that have young children.

• Oh The Places You Will Go Reading- On Saturday February 27, 2010, Target is sponsoring a free reading of Oh The Places You Will Go, along with Dr. Seuss inspired games, activities and giveaways.  To find more information or to find a location near you visit click here.

• Cat-a-Van – NEA is sponsoring a van touring the country to bring special events to cities across the US.  For more information visit nea.org/readacross.

In addition to attending or sharing any of these events you can still participate in Read Across America on March 2 and then everyday at home!  Below are ideas for activities you can do while reading with your child:

            Brain Insights For Read Across America

            Reading Rockets Tips for Parents of Preschoolers

            Dr. Seuss Activities

If you know of other events or reading activities please share your comments below or email me. It will be wonderful to hear the ideas you have to share. So snuggle up with a favorite book or a fun new one and enjoy. I have a new one I cannot wait to get to myself. Happy Reading!