What's it all about

Why does early childhood development matter?

“One cannot emphasise too strongly the importance of those first years for the course that a child will follow throughout his entire life,” Erasmus

Studies in neuroscience and biology have shown that brain development during the early years of a child’s life can set the path that affects their health, learning and behaviour for the future. The experiences and environment of a child during this period directly impacts on the development of the brain and related biological pathways.

What does all this mean? 

These early experiences mould the brain functions that determine emotions and temperament, ability with language and literacy, perceptual and cognitive ability, how individuals cope with daily experiences and stress (resilience) physical capabilities, and physical and mental health.>

A brain function shaped by early life is what is often called the stress or emotional behaviour pathway. Properly called the Limbic Hypothalamus Pituitary Adrenal (LHPA) it works as a temperature gauge for stress, emotions and behaviour and its development profoundly effects thinking and learning. 

Very simple things can influence the shaping of the LHPA. For example, how often a child is touched in early life will cause certain chemicals in the brain to be produced in larger or smaller amounts, changing how the LHPA develops and having lifelong effects on their resilience to stress. The physical surroundings of a child’s early life also have a decisive effect on their future health and capabilities. 

The crucial period of development is when a child’s brain is very flexible, before birth to the age of four. These early forming brain functions are hard to change by the time a child reaches school age.

Laying down strong foundations in the early years is essential in creating a permanent benefit in developing robust, healthy populations, tolerant societies and in reductions in mental illness, violence, crime, addiction and physical illness.