Think Fast. They Do. The importance of Early Brain Development
Subject Matter Includes:
Faster than 4G The science of brain development
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90%
of a child's critical
brain development
happens by age 5. -
From Birth
To age 3, children grow
and learn at the most
intense rate.By age 4, primary senses and basic motor skills
are almost fully developed. -
Did You
Know?The brain is the
only organ not
fully developed
at birth. -
At Birth,
About 100 billion neurons,
or brain cells have been
produced. -
In the first few
years of life,700 New
Neural connections are
formed every second.At age 8 months an infant may have 1,000
trillion synapses (42,000 a minute!) -
The First
5 YearsAre the most critical in
the development of a
child's brain.During these years, children begin to develop
cognitive, social, emotional, and language skills
and start to relate and interact with the world. -
The First
5 YearsRepresents the
pivotal juncture of
nurture and natureand how they shape the development of young minds.
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Get Involved
Born Learning School success starts early
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Differences in the size of
children's vocabulary
first appear at about18 Months
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If children start school
ready to succeed,They are more likely to
read at grade level by3rd Grade.
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The number of words
a child knows at age 3,Strongly correlates with
reading and comprehension
levels at ages9 And 10.
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By the time they reach
the age of 3,children in highly communicative families will have a vocabulary of 1,100
words, while children in less communicative families will have a vocabulary
of less than half of that (500) words. -
If children graduate
from high school,They are more likely to go
on to higher education.90% of the fastest-growing jobs in America require
some postsecondary education. -
Higher achievement
leads to higher wages,Better health, less
need for social
supports and helps
generate revenue. -
Academic
SuccessPromotes greater
self-confidence
and a willingness
to explore. -
National Studies
Show that children exposed to high-quality
early childhood education:Are 40% less likely
to need special
education or be held
back a gradeAre 70% less likely
to commit a violent
crime by age 18Have better
language, math and
social skills, and
better relationships
with classmatesHave better
cognitive and
sensory skills and
experience less
anxietyScore higher on
school-readiness
measures -
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Not my issue It should be
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Invested in early
childhood yields a$16 Return
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Nearly 70% of police
chiefs, sheriffs,and prosecutors say that providing more educational
programs for young children is the most effective strategy
to reduce youth violence and crime.
-
70% Less
Chance
of CrimeChildren exposed to high-quality early education are 70%
less likely to commit a violent crime by age 18. -
National Security
Currently, 75 percent of 17 to 24 year olds in
the U.S. cannot serve in the military,primarily because they are physically unfit, have not graduated from high school, or have a criminal record.
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More Than 300
Retired generals, admirals, and
other senior military leadersare working together to ensure continued American security and prosperity by
calling for smart investments in early childhood programs that have been
shown to result in greater physical health, higher graduation rates and
decreased crime. -
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Parents are teachers Early Learning = Lifetime Achievement
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Children Develop
In an environment
of relationshipsthat begin in the home but also include adults
and peers in the extended family, providers of
early care, education, and other services for
families, and members of the community. -
Young
ChildrenServe up frequent
invitations to engage
with adults,who are either responsive or unresponsive to
their needs. This "serve and return" process
is fundamental to the wiring of the brain,
especially in the early years. -
Fundamental aspects
of brain architecturenecessary for successful learning and
socio-emotional adjustment are established long
before a child enters school. -
To Encourage Play:
Become an
advocate for playBe sure to
schedule time
for play.Provide the
resources for
stimulating playNot necessarily toys,
just varied objects
visible to children.Re-evaluateStructured activities
Join in the fun,But let your child
take the lead.Encourage your
childTo use their
imagination. -
- Play should be pleasurable and enjoyable.
- Play must have no extrinsic goals. Don't start out
saying, let's develop pre-reading skills. - Play is spontaneous and voluntary.
- Play involves active engagement from the
player. Video games don't count. - And, finally, play contains an element of
make believe.
Play Provides
A strong foundation
for intellectual
growth, creativity
and problem solving.In the 21st century, creative
problem solvers, independent
thinkers and people with
expert social acumen will
inevitably surpass those who
have simply learned to be
efficient at getting the right
answers. -
Get Involved
Get informed. Get engaged. One connection inspires millions
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Get Informed
-
Get Involved
-
Get Them Ready
Read To Kids
Videos: tips for reading to
infants, toddlers and preschoolersBook List: popular titles for
different agesDonate Books: to your local
library, child care center or
preschoolVolunteer: to read to young kids
Support your local
early childhood
councilBe On One:
www.azftf.gov/applyRecruit For One:
www.azftf.gov/applyAttend One:
azftf.gov/regionalcouncils
Share information
on quality early
childhood experiences with
parents and caregiversStart Sharing:
Parents' Corner
