TIME: Fertile Minds

After reading this article, I have a greater understanding and more appreciation for how amazing the brain is, especially as it begins to form and develop. The article pointed out that for years there has been debate over whether nature or nurture is most important. What scientists are discovering is that it's not a competition but "a dance". The two are very importantly related and interconnected. When a child is deprived of a stimulating environment or healthy emotional support and love, a child's brain suffers. It doesn't mean that all is lost however. The brain is a unique and awesome machine and as it is developing it will compensate and change. In the article, it gave the example of a child suffering autism. If intervention begins early enough (age 3) and the underlying cause is found and treated, then a child suffering from autism can sometimes be "snatched" back. How amazing!! This reminds me of my brother-in-law Russ. He was in a snowboarding accident at age 21 and suffered a traumatic brain injury. It was so severe that doctors told his parents that he would be vegetable forever and that they might consider taking him off life support. They chose not to and though he was in a coma for about 9 months, he came out of it. And, although doctors said he wouldn't progress, he did. And after 1 year, when doctors said that he wouldn't progress anymore after 1 year, he has. It is about 7 years later and he is still progressing. There are some things his brain wasn't able to repair, such as his ability to speak. However, his brain has compensated and allowed him functions that doctors thought would never happen because of his age and the severity of the accident. It just goes to show how amazing our brains really are.

The experiences a child has during the early years when their brain is developing acts as the blue print for the rest of the development of the brain. I found that to be a critically important fact that I wish all parents understood. It is so important for us as parents to nurture our children and raise them in loving, enriching environments free from stress, abuse, etc. With parents working more leaving little time to interact positively with their children, the article pointed out the importance of good daycares and preschools and how they can help offset the deficits in the home. The article stated, "good daycare is essential brain food." I never thought to look at daycare that way however it is very comforting to me. I go to school and work part-time and feel much guilt for the time I am away from my daughter. I know she is in a "good" daycare and can now feel good that it is good for her.

Another section of the article mentioned "Windows of Opportunity". I found it interesting that while we will acquire new language after 5 or 6, our ability to learn syntax closes around that age. I was also surprised to learn that the easiest time for a children to learn a 2nd language is between birth and 6 years. I found out in class that language immersion programs start in Kindergarten, however this is about the last year of ease according to the article. Knowing this has made me want to make a greater effort to teach my daughter Spanish. I haven't figured out quite how to do that yet since my husband doesn't speak Spanish (so we can't have our own secret language) but maybe I can incorporate the room language or something. Food for thought.

As a future teacher and as a parent, I found this article enlightening. Although many of us in the education program will be teaching children who are age 6 years and up, I still feel it is important for us to know. It points out the importance of nurture and environment. Children will be spending a large part of their day at school, with us. For those students who do come from a home where there are deficits, abuse, stress, I think it is especially important to make our classrooms and our interactions with our students positive and enriching. For me as a parent, this article just opened my eyes and helped me understand brain development a little better and the extreme importance of providing stimulating surroundings, enriching interactions and emotional support. It also made me realize just how critical early intervention can be in perhaps reversing or bettering a disorder caused from bad wiring.