Republic of the Philippines
Bohol Island State University
Clarin Campus
Poblacion Norte, Clarin, Bohol
Name: Nova C. Tampon
Course & Year: BTLEd-HE 2B
CHAPTER 2: LESSON 3
BRAIN DEVELOPMENT IN CHILDREN
Brain development in children happens gradually and every area of their brain
begins to function efficiently with time.
COGNITIVE DEVELOPMENT
Baby Development 1
1. Development of the Visual and Auditory Senses – are the first to be
developed in children. To improve these senses, the parents and guardians
should ensure that the child is exposed to different colors, shapes, and sounds.
2. Development of Language Skills – The child begins to gurgle some sounds
and moves on to some monosyllables like ma, pa, dada, etc... The parents
should develop these skills by talking to the child and encouraging him to speak;
or reading poems and singing songs and lullabies.
3. Development of the Motor Skills – Child brain begins to gain control of the
muscles; starts moving his arms and legs in all directions playfully; hold fingers
and grasp toys. Parents should help the child with physical activities.
4. Development of the Emotional and Social Quotient – by the healthy, warm,
caring, and loving environment the child receives. It is very important for the
parents to maintain a healthy environment in the house, as the child is very
vulnerable to negative emotions around him. Child develops emotion of hatred,
anger, fear, etc. as easily as love trust, and empathy by learning from his
surroundings.
5. How the Brain Learns – New parents are given the most common advice to
cradle their baby’s head very carefully because the neck muscles cannot support
the weight of the head. The brain is already ¼ the weight of an adults and the
prenatal phase is when the neurons, axons and synapses form and connect.
DEVELOPMENT IN EARLY 6 WEEKS
Baby Development 2
A newborn is totally dependent on the mother for its basic needs. The first 6
weeks is the time when they learn many things and form a bond with their mother
and others. During this time the baby:
1. Can See: Objects that are just 8 to 12 inches away that means he can see the
mother’s face only when she holds him close to her body. This is the time when
the baby enjoys looking at bright, colorful as well as black and white images and
objects.
2. Can Hear: Voices and sounds; the baby could hear when it was inside the womb
of its mother. Thus, the minute it is born, it recognizes its mother’s voice instantly.
3. Can Feel: Touch is one important sensation that babies can understand that
build their trust and bond with the baby by giving the baby gentle massages, hold
him/her close to make him feel loved and secure.
4. Can Communicate: Crying, gurgling, and cooing. When the baby feels hungry,
tired, sleepy or is in pain, it will cry and when the baby wants to talk to you, it will
start cooing.
DEVELOPMENT IN 3 TO 6 MONTHS
Baby Development 3
At this age, the baby turns more social and will start playing simple games
with parents. The baby realizes that its actions tend to stimulate its
surroundings. Muscle control is better, and thus, the child will try to explore
the world around it. During this time, the baby:
1. Can See: As far as 3 feet. It will follow objects across, over or under him/her
visually. The baby starts developing depth and distance perception, that is, can
understand objects placed far away and near to him/her.
2. Can Eat: The best time introduce the baby with solid foods after consulting with
the doctor. Should be made to sit upright, before feeding. Foods should be iron-
fortified, single-grained or baby vegetables.
3. Can Move: Baby starts to roll over, sit up with the help of support, as well as
learns to grab things. Starts with playing its hands, reach for his/her toes and
begins to put things in its mouth and explore toys.
4. Can Communicate: Baby starts producing more sounds, vowels, and starts to
squeal. Facial expressions are more pronounced and gurgle when having a
conversation. Child develops emotionally, and starts reacting in a different
manner when hearing the voice of a familiar person and a stranger.
DEVELOPMENT IN 1 TO 2 YEARS
Baby Development 4
This is the phase when the child learns to walk and talk. Thus, the child needs to
be supervised at all times during this phase. The toddler during this phase:
1. Can Eat: With the family 3 times a day. The appetite may decrease and toddler
will favor one type of food.
2. Can Move: The toddler learns to walk on its own. He/she learn to kick a ball and
learn to climb stairs, starts using its finger and learns to hold on to things like
spoon. This is also the time when they love to draw and color.
3. Can Communicate: Vocabulary increases. The child use words when he/she
recognizes certain objects in books or pictures. Pronunciation may not be
correct, but encourage the child to speak more.
DEVELOPMENT IN EARLY CHILDHOOD
There are certain milestones that are achieved within the brain according to the
age of the child. So, there are different stages of child development according to
age:
DEVELOPMENT MILESTONE OF BRAIN
Baby Development 5
1. Age 4 months: Brain starts responding to the different words or sounds
produced in any language spoken.
2. Age 8 to 9 months: Infant brains begins to develop memory as he experiences
different activities like pushing a ball around or throwing a spoon.
3. Age 10 months: Begins to focus on his own new language like ma, pa, da-da,
ba-ba, etc. and pays little attention to other languages spoken around him.
4. Age 12 months: Begins to respond to words that are spoken in a child-like funny
manner rather than flat, normal voices. Child should be spoken to in the
language that he understands.
5. Age 12 to 18 months: Babies and toddlers begin to explore their memories. If
the child has seen a toy that needs winding, the child will wind it finally begins to
play.
6. Age 24 months: Toddlers and preschoolers recognize the people around them
and know their friends from strangers. They begin to cry when handled by people
who are unknown to them.
7. Age 30 months: The child begins to develop a kind of map in his/her mind and
knows where the things are in his or her surroundings.
8. Age 36 months: The child begins to show to different emotions at one single
time, like falling down while playing and feel like crying, but happy that he is
having fun in the park.
BABY DEVELOPMENT 6
1. Emotional Intelligence: The optimum period for development of the brain is 0 to
24 months and the next best age is 2-5 years. The EQ can further develop at any
age.
2. Motor Development: The optimum period is 0 to 24 years and then 2-5 years
with the possibility of further development possibility decreasing with age.
3. Vision: The optimum period is 0 to 2 years and then 2 to 5 years. The vision may
remain constant or decrease with age.
4. Hearing: The optimum period is 4 to 8 months; then 8 months to 5 years. The
ability to recognize and understand sounds keeps developing with age.
5. Ability to Think: The child begins to think from 0 to 48 months; then from 4 to 10
years when parents and other adults are bombarded with a million questions.
This is the age when a child is actively thinking and questioning the happenings
of the surroundings.
6. Second Language Skills: The child can learn and understand a second
language other than his mother tongue during 5 to 10 years of age. The child can
further learn more language skills at any age.
