1

The Early Growing Season: How to Nurture Brain Power in

Young Children

The Early Growing Season: How to Nurture Brain Power in

Young Children

Kathy Theuer, E.d.D.Associate Dean, School of Education

Brandman

University

Kathy Theuer, E.d.D.Associate Dean, School of Education

Brandman

University

2

Nurturing Brain PowerNurturing Brain Power

Physical Development of the BrainSocial and Emotional DevelopmentCognitive Development

Physical Development of the BrainSocial and Emotional DevelopmentCognitive Development

3

Education is discovering the brain, and that’s about the best news there could be….anyone who does not have a

holistic grasp of the brain’s architecture, purposes and main ways of operating is as far behind the times as an automobile designer without a full understanding of engines.

Leslie Hart

4

The Decade of the Brain 1990-2000

The Decade of the Brain 1990-2000

New imaging technologies

Better understanding of the brain and how it functions

New imaging technologies

Better understanding of the brain and how it functions

5

Electroencephalography EEG

Electroencephalography EEG

6

Computerized Axial Tomography (CAT) Scan

Computerized Axial Tomography (CAT) Scan

7

Positron Emission Tomography (PET) Positron Emission Tomography (PET)

More Active

8

Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)

Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)

9

Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI)

Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI)

Hearing Seeing

10

Fields of Study in NeuroscienceFields of Study in NeuroscienceNeuroanatomyDevelopmental NeuroscienceCognitive NeuroscienceBehavioral NeuroscienceClinical Neuroscience

NeuroanatomyDevelopmental NeuroscienceCognitive NeuroscienceBehavioral NeuroscienceClinical Neuroscience

11

Brain Research

In Educational Journals and Books…

In the Popular Media…

12

Brain BasicsBrain Basics

Composition of the Brain75% water10% Fat8% Protein

Energy Requirements2% of body’s adult weightConsumes 20% of body’s energy

Composition of the Brain75% water10% Fat8% Protein

Energy Requirements2% of body’s adult weightConsumes 20% of body’s energy

13

Brain PowerBrain Power

Uses 8 gallons of blood per hourBlood provides fuel in the form of oxygen and glucoseBrain uses 1/5th of the body’s oxygenWater is required to move neuron signals

Uses 8 gallons of blood per hourBlood provides fuel in the form of oxygen and glucoseBrain uses 1/5th of the body’s oxygenWater is required to move neuron signals

14

Brain CompositionBrain Composition

Weighs 3 pounds when fully developedMade up of at least 100 billion nerve cells (neurons)

Weighs 3 pounds when fully developedMade up of at least 100 billion nerve cells (neurons)

15

NeuronsNeurons

Synapse

DendriteAxon

16

Nerve Cell GrowthNerve Cell Growth

17

Brain DevelopmentBrain Development

18

Brain Development Before Birth

Brain Development Before Birth

Π

1st month‐

Neural tube formsΠ

2nd month‐

major structures of the   

brain begin to form

Π 1st month‐

Neural tube formsΠ 2nd month‐

major structures of the   

brain begin to form

19

Brain Development Before Birth

Brain Development Before Birth

Π

3rd‐6th months1st wave of brain cell proliferation

Π 3rd‐6th months1st wave of brain cell proliferation

20

Brain Development Before Birth

Brain Development Before Birth

Π

6th month‐

cerebral cortex starts to separate into lobes

Π

8th month‐

the auditory cortex, visual  cortex and Broca’s

area have begun to    

function

Π

6th month‐

cerebral cortex starts to separate into lobes

Π 8th month‐

the auditory cortex, visual  cortex and Broca’s

area have begun to    

function

21

Brain Development Before Birth

Brain Development Before Birth

Π

8th‐9th month1st wave of pruning

Π 8th‐9th month1st wave of pruning

Autism may be a result of insufficient or abnormal pruning during this time

22

Brain Development (Ages 6-12)

Brain Development (Ages 6-12)

2nd Wave

of Brain Cell ProliferationFocus is on number of connectionsbetween nerve cellsGray matter thickens

2nd Wave

of Brain Cell ProliferationFocus is on number of connectionsbetween nerve cellsGray matter thickens

Connection to ADHD & Tourette’s?

23

Brain Development (Ages 12-25)

Brain Development (Ages 12-25)

2nd Wave of PruningGray matter thinsWhite matter thickensFewer but faster connections

2nd Wave of PruningGray matter thinsWhite matter thickensFewer but faster connections

Connection to schizophrenia & bipolar disorder?

24

Teen BrainTeen Brain

The prefrontal cortex (thinking brain) is the last

part of the brain to develop.

The prefrontal cortex (thinking brain) is the last

part of the brain to develop.

25

Brain MaturationBrain MaturationMaturation occurs from Back to FrontMaturation occurs from Back to Front

26

Sensitive PeriodsSensitive Periods

Vision

Birth   

2Hearing

Birth

10

Emotional Control Birth 

3

Vocabulary

Birth

6Motor Development

Birth

10

Second Language  Birth

10

Vision

Birth   

2Hearing

Birth

10

Emotional Control Birth 

3

Vocabulary

Birth

6Motor Development

Birth

10

Second Language  Birth

10

27

The Dendrite Song (To the tune of Clementine)

The Dendrite Song (To the tune of Clementine)

Use your dendrites, Use your dendrites, To connect throughout your brainTake in info, analyze it,Grow some new onesUnrestrained

Use your dendrites, Use your dendrites, To connect throughout your brainTake in info, analyze it,Grow some new onesUnrestrained

28

Axons send outNeurotransmittersTo the dendrites all aroundAcross the synapseJumps the impulseNew ideas can now abound

Axons send outNeurotransmittersTo the dendrites all aroundAcross the synapseJumps the impulseNew ideas can now abound

29

Stimulation Is what the brain needsTo make dendrites stretch and growNew connections Make us smarterIn what we think and what we know.

Stimulation Is what the brain needsTo make dendrites stretch and growNew connections Make us smarterIn what we think and what we know.

30

Use your dendrites, Use your dendrites,To connect throughout your brainTake in info, analyze it, Grow some new onesUnrestrained

Use your dendrites, Use your dendrites,To connect throughout your brainTake in info, analyze it, Grow some new onesUnrestrained

31

Brain FoodBrain Food

Complex Carbohydratesfruits, vegetables and whole grainsProteinmeat, dairy, nuts, seeds, and beans

Complex Carbohydratesfruits, vegetables and whole grainsProteinmeat, dairy, nuts, seeds, and beans

32

Essential Fatty AcidsEssential Fatty Acids

Omega 3 ‐flax seeds, walnuts, green leafy vegetables Omega 6 ‐sunflower, safflower, corn, sesame oilsDocosahexaenoic Acid (DHA)‐ human breast milk, salmon and tuna

Omega 3 ‐flax seeds, walnuts, green leafy vegetables Omega 6 ‐sunflower, safflower, corn, sesame oilsDocosahexaenoic Acid (DHA)‐ human breast milk, salmon and tuna

33

Vitamins & MineralsVitamins & MineralsCholinebeef or chicken liver, pork, eggs, wheat 

germ, or soybeans Iron

meat, fish, or beansFolic Acidenriched cereals, grains, liver, eggs, beans, 

or green leafy vegetables

Cholinebeef or chicken liver, pork, eggs, wheat 

germ, or soybeansIronmeat, fish, or beansFolic Acidenriched cereals, grains, liver, eggs, beans, 

or green leafy vegetables

34

Toxins & Brain DevelopmentToxins & Brain Development

• Environmental chemicals

• Recreational drugs

• Prescription medications

• Environmental chemicals

• Recreational drugs

• Prescription medications

35

Environmental ChemicalsEnvironmental Chemicals

LeadMercuryOrganophosphates

LeadMercuryOrganophosphates

36

Recreational DrugsRecreational Drugs

AlcoholNicotinePsycho‐stimulants‐Cocaine, methanphetamine, ritalin

AlcoholNicotinePsycho‐stimulants‐Cocaine, methanphetamine, ritalin

37

Stress & Brain DevelopmentStress & Brain Development

Stress

Release of stress hormones (Cortisol

and Adrenaline)

Increase heart rate, blood pressure

Stress

Release of stress hormones (Cortisol

and Adrenaline)

Increase heart rate, blood pressure

38

Prolonged StressProlonged Stress

Can cause genes important for survival to be over‐expressedCan activate genes linked to depression and other mental problems.Can leave a memory trace that gets triggered by a lesser stress and reinforced

Can cause genes important for survival to be over‐expressedCan activate genes linked to depression and other mental problems.Can leave a memory trace that gets triggered by a lesser stress and reinforced

39

Stress & MemoryStress & MemoryCan cause the hippocampus to shrinkCan cause the hippocampus to shrink

40

Stress during PregnancyStress during Pregnancy

Stress can be transferred from mother to child

Stress can be transferred from mother to child

41

Pair SharePair Share1.

What is one “Ah Ha”

you have learned  

about the physical development of  the brain?

2.   How can we, as early childhood 

educators and caregivers, support a  child’s brain development?

1. What is one “Ah Ha”

you have learned  

about the physical development of  the brain?

2.   How can we, as early childhood  educators and caregivers, support a 

child’s brain development?

42

Social DevelopmentSocial DevelopmentNurturing and stable relationships with caring adults (parents,caregivers, teachers)

Nurturing and stable relationships with caring adults (parents,caregivers, teachers)

43

Regulating EmotionsRegulating Emotions

44

45

TV Viewing TV Viewing

Can be over‐stimulatingLead to attention problemsTakes away from social interaction

Can be over‐stimulatingLead to attention problemsTakes away from social interaction

46

Mirror NeuronsMirror Neurons

Babies use their own motor system tofigure out how someone else’s actionswill unfold.

Babies use their own motor system tofigure out how someone else’s actionswill unfold.

47

Broken MirrorsBroken MirrorsSymptoms of Autism

Social IsolationLack of eye contactPoor language capacity Absence of Empathy

Symptoms of Autism

Social IsolationLack of eye contactPoor language capacity Absence of Empathy

48

Anatomy of AutismAnatomy of Autism

Insula

Anterior  Cingulate Cortex

49

Movement & LearningMovement & Learning

50

Cognitive DevelopmentCognitive Development

Early Language DevelopmentMathEarly Language DevelopmentMath

51

Getting Primed for LanguageGetting Primed for LanguageIn the final trimester of pregnancy thefetus is able to hear its mother’s voiceIn the final trimester of pregnancy thefetus is able to hear its mother’s voice

52

Language CapacityLanguage Capacity

Babies are primed to be multilingualBabies are primed to be multilingual

53

Parts of Brain Involved in Spoken Language

Parts of Brain Involved in Spoken Language

54

Spoken Language Development

Spoken Language Development

Prosody    Phonemes    Words  Grammar

Birth                  6               12              18        24

Ages in Months

Prosody    Phonemes    Words  Grammar

Birth                  6               12              18        24

Ages in Months

55

Language ExplosionLanguage Explosion

2 year old  ‐ 100‐200 words3 year old  ‐ 900 words5 year old  ‐ 3000‐8000 words6 year old  ‐ 13,000 words

2 year old  ‐ 100‐200 words3 year old  ‐ 900 words5 year old  ‐ 3000‐8000 words6 year old  ‐ 13,000 words

56

Fostering A Language-Rich Environment (Birth-3)

Fostering A Language-Rich Environment (Birth-3)

Talking to childrenReading to childrenNursery rhymes

Talking to childrenReading to childrenNursery rhymes

57

Oral Language Activities Preschool

Oral Language Activities Preschool

Conversations that are cognitivelychallenging and vocabulary richComprehension & vocabulary building during story timePhonemic awareness

Conversations that are cognitivelychallenging and vocabulary richComprehension & vocabulary building during story timePhonemic awareness

58

Phonemic Awareness Strategies

Phonemic Awareness Strategies

• Alliteration• Rhyming• Oddity tasks• Word and syllable counting • Phoneme sounds through music

• Alliteration• Rhyming• Oddity tasks• Word and syllable counting • Phoneme sounds through music

59

Print AwarenessPrint Awareness

Words are read, pictures are viewedRead in English from left to rightLetters placed next to each other form wordsLetters have a large and small version

Words are read, pictures are viewedRead in English from left to rightLetters placed next to each other form wordsLetters have a large and small version

60

Early Writing SkillsEarly Writing Skills

Provide tools for drawing or coloringModel the uses of writingProvide opportunities to use writing

Provide tools for drawing or coloringModel the uses of writingProvide opportunities to use writing

61

Identifying Language Problems

Identifying Language Problems

Delay in speakingDifficulties with pronunciationDifficulty learning letters of alphabetRecalling incorrect phonemesInsensitivity to rhyme

Delay in speakingDifficulties with pronunciationDifficulty learning letters of alphabetRecalling incorrect phonemesInsensitivity to rhyme

62

DyslexiaDyslexia

Isn’t a vision problem it is a hearing problem

Good Reader             Dyslexic Reader

Isn’t a vision problem it is a hearing problem

Good Reader             Dyslexic Reader

63

Rewiring the BrainRewiring the BrainFast ForWord

(Scientific Learning)Fast ForWord

(Scientific Learning)

64

Parts of the Brain Involved in Math

Parts of the Brain Involved in Math

Number symbols‐ processedin the parietal lobe

Number words‐ processed in Broca’s

area

Number symbols‐ processedin the parietal lobe

Number words‐ processed in Broca’s

area

65

Development of Math SkillsDevelopment of Math Skills

Babies can count!Babies can count!

66

Early Math SkillsEarly Math Skills

SubitizingUse visual cues to make mentalconnections between patterns of objectsand their numerosity

SubitizingUse visual cues to make mentalconnections between patterns of objectsand their numerosity

67

Fostering Early Math SkillsFostering Early Math Skills

Number Sense Geometry & spatial relationshipsMeasurementPatterns/geometryAnalyzing data

Number Sense Geometry & spatial relationshipsMeasurementPatterns/geometryAnalyzing data

68

DyscalculiaDyscalculia

Problem with parietal lobe of brainDevelopmental Dyscalculia‐ genetic link develops at birthRelates to child’s inability to subitizeRely heavily on sequencing and memorizing

Problem with parietal lobe of brainDevelopmental Dyscalculia‐ genetic link develops at birthRelates to child’s inability to subitizeRely heavily on sequencing and memorizing

69

Nurturing Brain Power in Young Children

Nurturing Brain Power in Young Children

70

Thank You….Thank You….

&

A special thanks to the Stanislaus County Children and Families 

Commission!

&

A special thanks to the Stanislaus County Children and Families 

Commission!