Brain Development in Children

The development of the brain is one of the most important features of the body as human life begins. Without our brains or with significant damage to the brain, functioning properly is impossible. The first two years are crucial for brain development as areas that control attention, processing, and memory are developed during this stage. The way the brain grows based on environmental factors as well as internal factors can greatly impact early childhood and into teenage years, and eventually throughout adulthood. Children are very receptive to the kind of attention and care they receive as they are learning more about themselves and the world. They pay attention to everything they see their parents or guardians do and try to mimic them. This is why it’s so important to make sure that children are being responsibly taken care of and given the correct attention and love they need to develop properly.

There is no one right way to raise a child but there are certainly wrong ways, like complete neglect. In psychology, we learn about different parenting styles such as, authoritarian, permissive, authoritative, and neglectful. Studies have shown that the best parenting style for children to be disciplined correctly but still have some freedom is the authoritative style. It is important that the child is growing up in an environment where they have every opportunity to be healthy and develop correctly. Many steps can be taken to ensure the child is growing up properly, including praising accomplishments, consistent and constructive discipline, making time for the child and showing them they are important, being a good role model, proper communication, loving the child, and others. Many studies have shown that children grow best when they are not neglected and aren’t exposed to extreme or consistent stress. Exposure to these things can have very negative effects on early brain development.

Taking care of a child’s physical needs is just as important as taking care of their emotional needs. There are many nutrients that are essential for healthy brain development, and making sure the child is getting the needed nutrients is vital. During early pregnancy, doctors recommend taking supplements like folic acid to help with fetal development, which helps form the neural tube, the structure that develops into the central nervous system in the fetus. Folic acid helps to prevent significant birth defects including anencephaly and spina bifida. After the child is born, ensuring they are getting the correct vitamins and nutrients is also important. Lutein is a crucial nutrient for healthy brain development, and it is found in the parts of the brain that are responsible for learning, memory, and development. Vitamin E and DHA are also very important, as they both promote developing cells in the growing brain. The body does not make vitamin E and lutein on its own, so getting the correct amounts of those in a child’s diet is extremely necessary. Breastmilk as well as fruits and vegetables house these essential nutrients. Vegetables like spinach, broccoli, green peas, and kale as well as fruits like oranges, cantaloupe, mangoes, and blueberries have many fundamental vitamins. Ensuring children are eating balanced healthy meals with fruits and vegetables is vital for avoiding preventable diseases.

              Not taking care of a child properly while pregnant can lead to serious birth defects as previously mentioned, especially if drugs and alcohol are ingested during pregnancy. After birth nutrition is also important, however, taking care of emotional and physical needs of the child are critical. Not meeting a child’s needs can have very negative effects on their development and can lead to various disorders. A study done on personality features during childhood emphasized this fact and found that childhood abuse and neglect are shown to increase the risk for personality disorders in adulthood, and abused children were four times more likely to be diagnosed with a personality disorder. These can include disorders such as paranoid, antisocial, borderline, and avoidant personality disorders, with borderline personality disorder being most prevalent in abused children. Not only is physical abuse a major contributor to personality disorders, but verbal abuse has an affect as well. In a study done with 793 mothers and children, it was found the children that were screamed at by their mothers or were told they didn’t love them were three times more likely to develop personality disorders. Of course, there are other factors that go into children developing personality disorders such as genetics, sensitivity to noises or lights, and the people the children are associated with, but there is a strong correlation between abuse and developing personality disorders. In many cases, these disorders can be easily prevented if parents take the time to tend to their children’s needs and care for them properly.

Sources: 

Sally Kuzemchak, M. S. (2022, May 11). The most important nutrients for your baby's brain, according to doctors. Parents. Retrieved November 11, 2022, from https://www.parents.com/recipes/scoop-on-food/the-most-important-nutrients-for-babys-brain/

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2022, June 15). Folic acid. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Retrieved November 11, 2022, from https://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/folicacid/about.html#:~:text=When%20the%20baby%20is%20developing,the%20early%20brain%20and%20spine.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2022, March 25). Early Brain Development and Health. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Retrieved November 11, 2022, from https://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/childdevelopment/early-brain-development.html

Hecht, K. F., Cicchetti, D., Rogosch, F. A., & Crick, N. R. (2014, August). Borderline personality features in childhood: The role of subtype, developmental timing, and chronicity of child maltreatment. Development and psychopathology. Retrieved November 11, 2022, from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4141853/

American Psychological Association. (n.d.). What causes personality disorders? American Psychological Association. Retrieved November 11, 2022, from https://www.apa.org/topics/personality-disorders/causes