Learning starts early
From the earliest moments of life, the interactions caregivers have with infants play a profound role in shaping their perception of themselves and the world. Infancy is not merely a period of dependence; rather, it is a phase characterized by exceptional neurological sensitivity, during which every gesture, word, and experience contributes to the foundation of lifelong development. Scientific research underscores the critical importance of early experiences: the brain rapidly forms and prunes connections, solidifying those that are consistently engaged.
The behaviors and choices of caregivers communicate fundamental messages to infants about whether the world is orderly, respectful, and safe, or unpredictable and beyond their control. Attentive, thoughtful engagement with infants can nurture a sense of security and foster confidence, ultimately supporting their future success and well-being.
The first three years are the most critical time of life. Research shows that while 85% of the brains infrastructure is laid down by age 5, the majority happens before the age of 3. Learning does not start the first day of preschool or kindergarten, but on the first day of life.
Everything an infant experiences gives instructions to the brain, telling it which neuronal connections to make stronger, and which to prune away.
How an infant sees the world is how they will expect things to be their whole life. If an infant is treated like a doll, picked up without warning, and cared for by people who they don’t have a strong relationship with, they grow up with a sense of no control over themselves and what happens to them. In comparison, an infant who is treated like a full capable human (which they are,) grows up to feel secure and to feel confident in their abilities.
With a simple mind shift in how we treat infants and toddlers, we can have a huge impact on their future success in school and life.
A co-worker once mentioned that they like to think that you shouldn’t do something to an infant that you would not do to a friend. I know that sounds strange, but let me give you some examples of how to do that: If you needed to help a friend change their clothes, you would not just start taking their clothes off, would you? NO, that would be rude, you would talk to them about it. When your infant needs a diaper change, talk to them about it. Say things like “I’m going take you to change your diaper now” and “we have two tabs to do” and count the tabs. You wouldn’t walk up to a friend and start moving their arms and legs or poking them. I have seen many caregivers treat infants this way, as if they are dolls to play with. Believe it or not, consent starts in infancy. I like to give baby massages when I change diapers and I always say “do you want a baby massage?” Even the youngest infants can tell me through their body language if they want one or not. Doing things like this wires a child’s brain to know that they have control over their bodies.
· If you had a friend who experienced traumatic brain injury and was relearning how to speak, would you sit quietly in a room with them? NO, you would talk to them to help them. When you are with your infant, talk to them like a friend. Tell them what you are doing, tell them why you are doing it. Simple things like “I’m washing the vegetables to get them ready for our dinner.” Some people call it Sportscasting, I call it investing in your child’s future.
When we focus on Preschool learning, we miss the greatest opportunity to help our child be a lifelong learner. It is really a simple thing to do, there are only a few things you need to do to make the most of this time. The most important thing is consistency of care, your infant needs to be with someone they know and trust. This allows them to explore and trust that they will be safe and loved. This feeling will stay with them for life.
The second thing is talking to them, talk to them about everything, you will be surprised by how much they understand when given the chance. Most of us have heard research about the importance of hearing a large number of words before starting school. Why wait until the preschool years to do this, remember NO BABY TALK, children can learn big words.
Lastly is respect. If you treat your infant with respect and love, they will grow up knowing they deserve love and respect, and they will also be more likely to show love and respect to others.
