I visited the Harvard University's "Global Children's Initiative." In it I discovered an article on the neuroscience of child development. This article can be found at http://developingchild.harvard.edu/resources/reports_and_working_papers/policy_framework/. It was interesting to see their research on how children's brain development is impacted even before the child is born especially if the mother is from a poverty stricken background. This is why it is so important for these children to have meaningful early educational experiences. Children's skills start out with the bare minimum. As they experience their environment and are responded to by the people in their lives, their skills are expanded upon and connections are made in the brain that build other skills. So the more positive and fulfilling their experiences are, the more these "circuits" connect and build on to other more complex skills.
This article also discusses how stress effects the brain and development. The body is wired to normally react to stress by releasing stress hormones and have elevated heart rates. After the stress or threat is over these levels are supposed to even out. It becomes a problem for children when they are constantly facing stress on a regular basis and these hormone levels stay high. The constant release of these hormones negatively impacts the development of a child's brain. They are constantly in protect mode which influences how the child learns, develops and behaves.
By focusing on three particular areas that help children by strengthening their family environment. One area of focus is health and nutrition. By educating families about their children's health and promoting healthy eating, this area serves to combat obesity and ensure that children are getting the essentials they need to concentrate and focus while they are in school. They also provide prenatal services and health services that ensure that the fetus is developing properly. Another area is home visiting programs. These programs are where professionals go into the home and provide support for mothers who are transitioning into the home after having a baby. This gives them the extra support that they may need while coping with the stress of having a baby. The third area provides support for sources of toxic stress such as mental health issues,substance abuse problems, or parents at risk for child maltreatment. These parents are given strategies for normal child behaviors and strategies to deal with misbehaviors in nonviolent ways.
