Did You Know?
At the birth of a child we see an adorable little person who is solely dependent on us. They are completely dependent on us for everything. While we stand around and talk about how cute their little toes and fingers are, there is so much going on as our babies grow and learn. Did you know?
At birth the heart, lungs, and kidneys are developed, but the brain and nervous system are very immature. Between birth and 3 years old, the brain reaches 90% of its adult size and complexity. By age 10, it has completed its formation.
A newborn a few minutes old will recognize his own father’s voice, if the father has been present and talking to the mother during the pregnancy. The baby can hear quite well in the womb.
Your brain uses a lot of energy and needs to be fueled with proteins, fats and vitamins regularly. Poor nutrition has a very damaging effect on brain power.
By the time of birth a human brain has 100 billion cells ready to get connected.
A child’s intellectual, emotional and social skills depend on having many good connections between neurons, and on how organized these pathways between different parts of the brain are. These connections are built and organized by the child’s experiences every day, which stimulates the brain.
Healthy brain connections are completely dependent on healthy human connections. There is no substitute.
The only effective way to help a baby learn language is for people to talk directly to the baby, early and often. Exposure to television is not a substitute.
Parts of the brain that are not frequently stimulated during early childhood actually get thrown away. The brain is very efficient. After a while if certain parts are not being used, they are discarded. Most of what is discarded can never really be fixed. Opportunities for acquiring important skills can be lost forever.
Touch is the first and perhaps most important sense. Touch triggers the release of many chemicals in the brain. Nurturing touch releases chemicals that calm the body and brain.
Scientists are discovering that brain cells tend to “remember” our strong emotional reactions to events in early childhood. These cells can be triggered by similar events in the present, causing us to feel or act as we did then.
The Women’s Center-Dayton is a pregnancy resource center that offers support and solutions for unexpected pregnancies for women in Dayton, Trotwood, Englewood, Clayton and Vandalia, Ohio. Women’s Center-Dayton provides women with free pregnancy tests, ultrasound scans, consulting on pregnancy decisions, and a material assistance program. To contact the Women’s Center-Dayton call (937) 228-2222 or email info@womenscenterohio.com. You can schedule an appointment by phone or on line by visiting our website www.womenscenterohio.com .
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