Supporting Infant Brain Development
By Payton Hiebert, BSC Neuroscience and Psychology
Play is important for infant brain development. The brain is most plastic during infancy, and it is easiest for the brain to change and grow during this time. In fact, your baby’s brain will double in size during their first year of life as they learn and make new neural connections (First Things First, n.d.). The foundations of many higher-level functions required as adults are based on the lower-level functions developed through plastic changes during infancy (Tierney, A.L. & Nelson, C.A., 2009), reinforcing the importance of proper brain development during the early years of life.
There are many ways in which you, as a parent or caregiver, can promote the healthy brain development of an infant. First, providing a safe and nurturing environment is crucial to early brain development (Caring For Kids, 2017). Everyday experiences shape an infant’s brain, and it is important that the changes being made will have a positive impact on development (Tierney, A.L., & Nelson, C.A., 2009). Having a calm home and a dependable routine will make your baby feel safe (Caring For Kids, 2017), allowing their brain the opportunity to focus on things that aren’t stress or fear. Creating a positive, loving relationship with your infant is also an important part of creating an environment in which their brain can thrive (Caring For Kids, 2017, First Things First, n.d.). Dependable responses to the actions of the infant once again reinforce a sense of safety, and your direct interaction with the infant also helps to establish neural circuitry systems (First Things First, 2017).
Along with providing an encouraging and healthy place to grow, there are a variety of actions and activities that you can do to provide your infant with neural stimulation. Active interaction is key for building neural circuitry, so it is important that your infant participates in activities that exceed simple observation (Caring For Kids, 2017). Playing with toys that can be easily picked up, toys that move, or toys that make sound allow your infant to strengthen neural connections in brain areas relating to hand dexterity, movement, and hearing. Exposure to new objects, sounds, and environments is also extremely beneficial for infants. During early infancy, talking or reading to your baby, making faces with them, or giving them new objects to hold are all ways in which you can increase your baby’s brain activity and help to build new neural connections (Raising Children, 2022). In later infancy, exposing your baby to different food textures, letting them explore in safe environments, and playing simple games like peek-a-boo are ways in which neural stimulation can be provided (Caring For Kids, 2017). No matter their age, getting outside is also a great way to expose your infant to new sounds, smells, and sights (Caring For Kids, 2017); just remember to take the proper steps to ensure your little one’s safety and comfort when outdoors.
Infant brain development depends largely on the actions of their caregiver. Try some of the suggestions in this post to ensure that your baby develops a healthy brain!
References
Caring For Kids, Canadian Pediatric Society. (2017). Your baby’s brain: How parents can support healthy development. Retrieved March 21, 2023 from https://caringforkids.cps.ca/handouts/pregnancy-and-babies/your_babys_brain
Raising Children. (2022). Thinking and play: newborns. Retrieved March 21, 2023 from https://raisingchildren.net.au/newborns/play-learning/play-ideas/thinking-play-newborns
Tierney, A.L., & Nelson, C.A. (2009). Brain Development and the Role of Experience in the Early Years. Zero Three, 30(2), 9-13. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3722610/
First Things First. (n.d.). Brain Development. https://www.firstthingsfirst.org/early-childhood-matters/braindevelopment/#:~:text=At%20birth%2C%20the%20average%20baby's,center%20of%20the%20human%20body.