Do you have the window of opportunity in your classroom?
We've all heard the term before but what exactly does it mean?The window of opportunity for children is the period of time when their brain is best able to accept and retain critical information through experiences and interactions that strengthen specific life long skills and create a foundation for learning.
The brain is the only unfinished organ at birth. Babies are born with 100 billion nerve cells (neurons); through experiences and interactions the infant's brain will create 1,000 trillion synapses (connections). The synapses form pathways between neurons that lay the foundation for life long skills. The pathways that are used become stronger and eventually become "wired" or permanently set in the brain, those that are not used eventually fade away.
| Window For: |
Wiring Window |
Greatest Enhancement Opportunity |
| Language |
4-8 months |
8 months-6 years |
| Early Sounds |
4-8 months |
8-6 months |
| Vocabulary Development |
Birth-24 months |
2-7 years |
| Emotional Intelligence |
Birth-48 months |
4-8 years |
| Trust |
Birth-14 months |
4-8 years |
| Impulse Control |
15 months-48 months |
4-8 years |
| Social Attachment |
Birth-24 months |
2-5 years |
| Motor Development |
Birth-24 months |
2-5 years |
| Thinking Skills |
Birth-48 months |
4 years-puberty |
| Cause and Effect |
Birth-48 months |
18 months-puberty |
| Problem Solving |
15 months-48 months |
18 months-puberty |
| Vision |
Birth-24 months |
2-6 years |
| Second Language |
Birth-60 months |
6 years-puberty |
So why should I understand brain development, I'm the child's teacher? Understanding brain development and the window of opportunity is critical, as the brain maintains the connections that are repeatedly used and discards those that are not. For example, a child who is talked to and read to on a regular basis from birth will most likely be successful at speaking and language skills while a child who is rarely spoken or read to in the early years may have difficulty mastering language skills later on. Therefore understanding brain development in early childhood is imperative to the child's future success and learning. The bottom line is this: the more repetitive experiences you provide to a young child the more opportunities he/she will have for success later in life. That's a pretty big responsibility, but one that is well worth it!
If you'd like more information regarding brain development or other Infant Toddler issues please contact:
Special Projects Coordinator
Oklahoma Child Care Resource and Referral Association
4200 Perimeter Center Dr. Suite 235
Oklahoma City, OK 73112
1-888-962-2772
birthtothree@oklahomachildcare.org
Resources:
125 Brain Games for Babies: Jackie Silberg
The Complete Resource Book for Infants: Pam Schiller
What's Going On In There? How the Brain and Mind Develop in the First Five Years of Life: Lise Elliot
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4200 Perimeter Center, Suite 235, Oklahoma City OK 73112