Top Picks: Child Development — Here’s what you need to know about cognitive development in early childhood

I am Lina Ashar and I want to jointly explore the power of parenting with you. Join me on my journey to educate our children in unlocking their extraordinary human potential.

Childhood Education: [Forbes] Studies demonstrate that quality early education can stimulate children’s language and cognitive growth while nurturing social and emotional development and building character. These early investments pay life-long dividends.

Early Childhood Mental Health: [Harvard University] As early experiences shape the architecture of the developing brain, they also lay the foundations of sound mental health. Disruptions to this developmental process can impair a child’s capacities for learning and relating to others — with lifelong implications. By improving children’s environments of relationships and experiences early in life, society can address many costly problems, including incarceration, homelessness, and the failure to complete high school.

For every child, early moments matter: [Unicef] In the brain-building process, neural connections are shaped by genes and life experiences — namely good nutrition, protection and stimulation from talk, play and responsive attention from caregivers. This combination of nature and nurture establishes the foundation of a child’s future.

Yet too many children are still missing out on the ‘eat, play, and love’ their brains need to develop. Put simply, we don’t care for children’s brains the way we care for their bodies.

Cognitive Development: Infants and Toddlers: [Virtual Lab School] Cognitive development is a unique process and is specific to each infant, toddler, and family. Many factors influence cognitive development including genes, prenatal events (i.e., before or during birth), and aspects of the child’s environment. A family may wonder about their young child’s cognitive development and feel uncertain about what they are observing, as well as what to expect.

Cognitive Milestones: [Help Me Grow] Milestones help you understand how your child learns and grows. Cognitive development is critical to a child’s growth. It describes how a child’s brain develops, and includes skills such as thinking, learning, exploring and problem solving. It also affects other areas of a child’s development, including language and social skills.