1. Intellectual Development Age 1-3
Chapter 12 Intro to TOYBOX

2. Brain Development from 1-3
How does the brain learn?
Neurons have fibers (axons & dendrites)
Fibers conduct information to/from neurons
What is the modern study of the brain called?
Neuroscience

3. Brain Development from 1-3
What is intelligence?
Ability to understand everyday situations
Use prior experiences for new experiences
Capacity to learn
Is intelligence shaped by heredity or environment?
Both!

4. Brain Development from 1-3
It is important for young children to have stimulating environment that promotes learning.
What does this look like?
Lots of interaction with caregivers
Appropriate play things
Plenty of encouragement
Why is the stimulating environment important?
It boosts learning
Attitudes formed in early years last a lifetime

5. Brain Development from 1-3
There are FOUR main Methods of Learning
Incidental Learning
Also called Unplanned learning
Example:
Push a button on a toy, song plays
Cause and effect

6. Brain Development from 1-3
Trial-and-Error Learning
When a child tries several things until one works
Example varies by age
12 months – Block Sorter
3 Years – Negotiating trades for toys
Imitation
Learning by watching and copying others
Example: playing telephone

7. Brain Development from 1-3
Directed Learning
Learning that results from being taught
Who might be the “teachers” of directed learning?
parents
caregivers
teachers
older siblings

8. Brain Development from 1-3
Concept Development
Children learn concepts in stages
What are concepts?
General ideas
Words that go along with them
Young children learn to categorize by
Color
Shape
size

9. Brain Development from 1-3
Some ideas are still confusing for youngsters.
Example: idea that everything that moves is alive!
What are some things that “move” that are not alive?
Clouds, toys, cartoon characters, washing machine

10. Brain Development from 1-3
Time concepts can be tricky.
When do children understand “before” and “after?”
About 2 years
When do they understand “today, tomorrow, yesterday?”
usually Kindergarten

11. Brain Development from 1-3
Intellectual activity broken down into 7 areas
Attention
Memory
Perception
Reasoning
Imagination
Creativity
Curiosity

12. Brain Development from 1-3
Attention
Our senses are always receiving information
Adults must learn to focus attention
Young children have a short attention span
Who can focus for longer: toddler or preschooler?
Preschooler!

13. Brain Development from 1-3
Memory
Short term memory
Ex: Look up a phone number
Long term memory
Ex: Experiences
Babies demonstrate memory for faces and food early
When does long term memory typically begin?
Usually about age 3

14. Brain Development from 1-3
Memory Games

15. Brain Development from 1-3
Perception
Information received through the senses
Talk about what you are doing with kids
Example: This is a blue block. Your shirt is blue too. Lets see if we can build a tower with only blue blocks.
It is important to respond to those “why” and “what is this?” questions. Why?
If ignored, the child may eventually stop asking.

16. Brain Development from 1-3
Reasoning
At age 1, a child will try all possibilities
By age 3, a child will think through choices
Children learn reasoning by making decisions
Choose between books at bedtime
Choose between two shirts

17. Brain Development from 1-3
Imagination
Becomes apparent at age 2
Pretending is a way for kids to have new experiences
What can a laundry basket also be?
Airplane, city building
What about the closet?
Cave, house

18. Imagination can help kids cope with fears
Doctor’s kit with teddy bear
It is important to respect a child’s imagination
3 year old who makes up a story is NOT lying

19. Brain Development from 1-3
Creativity
When imagination is used to create something original
Examples: Finger painting, silly songs, daydreams
When is creativity most readily developed?
Early childhood
Curiosity
Causes children to wonder “why” and “how”
Try not to be too overprotective and allow your child to have new experiences

20. Encourage Imagination and Creativity
Encourage exploration
THINK PAIR SHARE: What are some activities that depend on exploring and imagination? Make a list! 
Drawing
Playing with clay
Building things
Dressing up
Telling stories
You start a story, and then ask the child to finish it

21. Encourage Imagination and Creativity
Provide multipurpose toys
Kids need toys that can be used in more than one way
Small wooden blocks: what else can they be?
Cars
Phones
Sandwiches
Walls of a castle

22. Encourage Imagination and Creativity
It is important to allow for unstructured time with no activities planned. Kids need time to themselves to use their imaginations.
Less screen time is better for kids
What does “screen time mean?”
TV, ipads, phones

23. Encourage Imagination and Creativity
Resist the Inner Critic
There is no one “right” way to paint or draw
It is important to…
always respond with genuine appreciation and questions
Why?
Helps the child to continue thinking creatively

24. Encourage Imagination and Creativity

25. Encourage Imagination and Creativity
Reward the Young Creator
Praise child’s efforts with deeds and words
Display the child’s pictures
Let the child hear you bragging about him to friends and family

26. Encourage Imagination and Creativity
Video
10 Amazing Facts About the Brain