World Brain Day

The connections within a child’s brain

As parents and as childcare professionals, we play a key role in encouraging the development of a child’s brain, and that starts from a very early age. Laying the right foundations for healthy brain development in early childhood benefits a child for the rest of their life. But what do you actually need in order to challenge and stimulate a child’s brain effectively. To understand how we can stimulate the child’s brain, we must first look at how it grows; a process that deserves some explanation. Every area in our brain has a specific role. For example, the hypothalamus signals when we’re hungry or in need of a nap. These different areas work together through neural connections, forming a network that powers the brain.

As soon as your child is born, all brain cells are ready to be activated. But how well this happens depends largely on the child’s environment. By providing a stimulating, play-rich setting – both at home and in childcare – you’re helping to build your child’s brain. You activate these neural connections and strengthen them. Around the age of 2 or 3, children even have more neural connections than adults. That’s one smart little brain! And it doesn’t stop there, children are also the most motivated and naturally gifted learners. From birth, they’re curious about the world and eager to absorb the behaviours and skills they observe.

👦 Challenge is essential

For children to thrive, they need plenty of opportunities to be challenged. That’s why it’s so important to let them grow up in an environment full of new experiences. Physical activity helps develop motor skills and gives children more freedom of movement. This, in turn, allows them to explore the world, learn through their senses, and develop cognitively. So yes, active play is an absolute must!

🧩 Games

Good news for anyone who loves playing games! Games are one of the best ways to strengthen your child’s executive functions. But what exactly are executive functions? These are brain functions that play a major role in a child’s success at school. Well-developed executive functions make it easier to focus, remember things, control impulses, and deal with complex or new situations. So head over to that game cupboard, it’s brain training in disguise!

🌳 Outdoor play

Physical activity is not only healthy, but it also helps create countless new neural connections, and as we now know, those are essential. Outdoor play helps children discover what their bodies can do. It boosts motor development and provides ample brain stimulation. What’s more, outdoor play often sparks more imagination than indoor play. Did you know that over 80% of children say playing outside makes them feel happy and joyful?

🍎 Healthy food and sleep

Let’s not forget the importance of healthy food and sleep! Minerals like iron, iodine and zinc are crucial for brain development. These can be found in fruit, vegetables, nuts, whole grains and dairy products. During the first 1,000 days of life, a child’s brain uses 60% of its glucose and 40% of their total daily energy. So healthy nutrition during this period has a long-term impact. And while sleeping, the brain strengthens important neural connections made during the day, while weaker ones are pruned away. This process is essential for your child’s learning ability.

🧠 Brainy facts

We came across a few fun facts about children’s brains, more food for thought!

• Your child learns while sleeping. Their brain works 24/7, which is why naps are so good for them!
• The brain grows more in the first two years than at any other time in life.
• The brain is like the king of the body, it governs and controls everything.
• By the time your baby turns one, their brain is already 60% the size of an adult’s.
• In the womb, the brain grows faster than any other organ.