International Congress on Brain Sciences Early Childhood Care & Education

The emphasis was on the crucial first years of a child’s life. During these years, the brain undergoes remarkable growth and development; the foundation is formed. The connections made in the brain during this period will benefit the child throughout their adult life — on a cognitive, social, emotional, creative and physical level.

Key learnings 

Back from Paris, our colleagues have returned to work with new inspiration! What are their key learnings

The young child is the most motivated and talented learner
From the very beginning, children are curious about the world around them and motivated to adopt the skills and behaviour they observe.

The environment as a learning tool
Children learn through interaction with their surroundings. By observing behaviour and communicating with familiar people, they develop key skills in language, emotion, and social interaction.

The importance of familiar voices
Babies respond more strongly to familiar voices, which leads to increased brain activity. This highlights the importance of having familiar faces in childcare.

Sleep is the key to learning
Whilst sleeping, children strengthen important neural connections that were formed during the day, while weaker connections are dissolved. This process is essential for the child’s learning ability.

Nutrition for a healthy future
During the first 1000 days, a baby’s brain consumes 60% of total glucose consumption and 40% of the total daily energy needed. Healthy nutrition during this period has a significant long-term impact.

Early education = long term impact
If we establish a strong foundation for brain development at an early age, the child will benefit for the rest of their life. Personalised education, tailored to the cognitive and social-emotional needs of the child, is believed to be the future.

More than just care

The insights shared during this congress reconfirm the value of the daily work of our childcare teachers. Our role reaches far beyond just care and supervision; we impact both the short- and long-term development of the children we welcome to our locations every day. We can enhance brain development by providing a safe, stimulating environment with positive interactions, healthy nutrition, familiar faces and voices, and plenty of sleep. Everything matters.

The future starts today

What made this day even more special was the collaboration between various disciplines such as science, policy, education, and childcare. By collectively focussing on early childhood development, we can reduce inequality of opportunity. Collaboration is the key.

At Basker International Childcare, we are committed to shaping a better tomorrow through education and care. Through sustainable education and care, we prepare children to thrive and contribute as conscious human beings. Our mission is now more tangible than ever.