Intellectual Development created by I Abdelnour

Neurons and Synapses 100 billion neurons At birth, a baby's brain contains 100 billion neurons, roughly as many nerve cells as there are stars in the Milky Way, and almost all the neurons the brain will ever have. The brain starts forming prenatally, about three weeks after conception.

What happens when nothing stimulates these connections?? When neurons connect, they form synapses. Synapses are the connection between neurons. During the first 3 years of life, a child’s brain develops 700 neural collections per second. What happens when nothing stimulates these connections??

Typical Human Development Humans develop Top to bottom – head, body, legs, feet Inside to outside – trunk, arms and legs, hands and feet

LARGE MUSCLE DEVELOPMENT JUMPING HOPPING CARRYING Name some others…….

Small Muscle Development Cutting Drawing Stringing beads Name some more…

THIS IS THE SEQUENCE FOR ALL HUMANS…. Exceptions????

How do we best encourage intellectual development?

PROVIDE OPPORTUNITIES!

How?? Ask open-ended questions (they have no right or wrong answers) Give children choices Allow and encourage creativity through art, music and movement, re-telling stories and creating new ones Build language skills through conversation, word games, reading stories singing, writing materials

Learn about their neighborhood through walks and field trips Provide many manipulative materials which encourage the development of problem solving skills. Ask for their opinion. Read daily Have them tell stories back to you…sequencing cards OBSERVE and remember that what children know depends on the experiences they have had.